The death of a young boy who endured years of delays for vital scoliosis surgery has reignited political and public outrage over Ireland’s long-standing backlog in paediatric orthopaedic care. Tánaiste Simon Harris is now under mounting pressure from opposition leaders and campaigners to meet with the child’s parents, who say the State failed their son.
A Long Fight for Care
Harvey Sherratt’s parents, Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison, spent years campaigning for urgent treatment for their son, whose severe scoliosis caused ongoing pain, physical limitations, and a reduced quality of life.
Earlier this year, the family learned that Harvey had been removed from Children’s Health Ireland’s (CHI) urgent scoliosis surgery list without their knowledge or consent — a revelation that prompted Taoiseach Micheál Martin to describe the situation as “shocking” and to say that an apology from CHI was warranted.
Harvey eventually underwent surgery in November 2023 after public attention was drawn to his case. However, his mother has stated that the years-long wait took an enormous toll on his health and wellbeing. On July 31st of this year, Harvey tragically passed away. His cause of death remains unknown pending further medical examinations.
Calls for Accountability
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has written directly to the Tánaiste, urging him to meet Harvey’s parents. She claims Harris assured her on the floor of the Dáil that such a meeting would take place to discuss the urgency of the boy’s situation — a meeting she says “never happened.”
“The State completely failed this bravest, strongest and most courageous boy and his family,” McDonald said. “Harvey’s parents deserve the respect of being heard in person by the Tánaiste.”
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín echoed these calls and went further, demanding Harris’s resignation over the handling of the case. “No minister who presided over this situation should remain in office,” he said, adding that his party repeatedly urged Harris to meet the family but those calls were ignored.
Harris Responds
Harris told reporters that when Harvey’s case was brought to his attention, he immediately contacted the Department of Health and CHI to request further clinical consultations — which he believes did occur. He stressed that such decisions must be made by medical professionals, not politicians, and said there was never a formal commitment on his part to meet the family directly.
“I was always of the view that it was very important that any medical interventions were clinician-led,” Harris said. He added that CHI should be engaging with the family and continuing to address their concerns.
The Broader Crisis in Scoliosis Care
Harvey’s case is one of hundreds involving children in Ireland who face years-long waits for scoliosis and other complex orthopaedic surgeries. In 2017, when Harris served as Minister for Health, he pledged that no child would wait more than four months for scoliosis surgery. That commitment has not been met, with many children now waiting more than two years for operations.
Campaigners and medical experts warn that such delays can lead to irreversible damage, reduced lung function, chronic pain, and psychological distress.
Next Steps
The government has not confirmed whether Harris will meet Harvey’s parents. Meanwhile, opposition leaders are expected to continue pressing the issue when the Dáil resumes, arguing that the case symbolises systemic failings in Ireland’s paediatric healthcare system.
For Harvey’s parents, the fight is no longer about securing treatment for their son — it is about ensuring no other child endures the same neglect. “Early action could have changed everything for Harvey,” his mother said. “We can’t let this happen to another family.”
