CHI apologises to families amid concerns over the CHI hip surgery review

Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) has issued an apology to children and families affected by failures in clinical governance and standards of care following revelations emerging from the ongoing CHI hip surgery review. Lucy Nugent, Chief Executive of CHI, appeared before the Oireachtas Committee on Health and acknowledged the significant distress experienced by families due to the organisation’s shortcomings.

Speaking to the Committee, Ms Nugent said she was deeply sorry on behalf of CHI’s management and emphasised her commitment to regaining the public’s trust.

She highlighted that the organisation recognises the impact these failures have had on parents, many of whom are now questioning whether they can place their confidence in Ireland’s national paediatric care system.

Internal governance and public accountability

Senior CHI executives and clinicians attended the Committee hearing to provide updates on several critical issues, including spinal surgery delays, internal governance reforms, and the progress of the CHI hip surgery review. The review follows widespread concern about whether pelvic osteotomy procedures carried out at CHI hospitals were clinically necessary or appropriate.

Committee members expressed disappointment that the whole internal report into CHI’s practices and culture was not released ahead of the hearing. They described a deeply troubling pattern of mismanagement, raising questions about transparency and the adequacy of oversight structures in paediatric healthcare.

Sinn Féin health spokesperson David Cullinane described the situation as unprecedented in scale and impact. Other members, including Senator Tom Clonan, voiced frustration at CHI’s previous attempts to attribute issues to isolated cases of clinician misconduct when the problems appear to be systemic.

In response, Ms Nugent accepted responsibility for the organisation’s failings and confirmed that clinical structures have been reconfigured to improve internal oversight. She also expressed a willingness to meet with concerned parents in open forums, where she would answer their questions directly.

Alarming findings from the CHI hip surgery review

The CHI hip surgery review has focused on children diagnosed with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) who underwent pelvic osteotomy surgery at CHI Temple Street, the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Cappagh, and CHI Crumlin.

The review has found that the majority of surgeries performed at Temple Street and Cappagh did not meet the clinical threshold for intervention under the audit’s criteria. In contrast, surgeries carried out at Crumlin were found to have met accepted standards.

These findings have triggered widespread concern among families who trusted CHI to deliver safe and necessary care. The organisation has since committed to reviewing all pelvic osteotomy surgeries performed since 2010, significantly expanding the scope of the original investigation.

To date, 105 appointments have been offered under the review programme. CHI has confirmed that families who had to cancel appointments are being contacted and rescheduled, and that the overall review is expected to take approximately six months to complete.

Efforts to reform and rebuild trust

In light of the CHI hip surgery review, CHI has adopted a multidisciplinary team model for assessing all future hip surgeries. This is intended to create a uniform standard of care across all its hospitals and ensure that decisions regarding surgery are supported by peer-reviewed clinical judgement.

Additional reforms are being implemented in the area of paediatric spinal surgery. CHI reported a decline in waiting times, with 223 spinal procedures completed so far in 2025, up from 196 in the same period last year. Recruitment is underway for three additional Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons, and a new spinal consultant is expected to commence in August.

Ms Nugent reaffirmed CHI’s commitment to reform, transparency, and patient-centred care.

However, many families remain cautious as they await clarity and accountability regarding past procedures. For those affected by the outcomes of the CHI hip surgery review, the coming months will be vital in determining whether the organisation is capable of delivering on its promises.

If you or your child has been impacted by the findings of the CHI hip surgery review, you may wish to seek legal advice about your options. Our team at Coleman Legal LLP are available to speak with you in confidence. Visit our dedicated page for more information: Unnecessary hip surgeries in Ireland. You can also contact us directly by phone at 1800-844-104 or by email at [email protected].