Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has called for Tánaiste Simon Harris to resign over his handling of the case of nine-year-old Harvey Morrison Sherratt.

Harvey, from Clondalkin in Dublin, died on 29 July. He had spina bifida and scoliosis and had faced long delays in receiving urgent spinal surgery. His mother said last week that the cause of death has not yet been established.

Last year, Harvey’s parents, Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison, revealed he had been removed from a Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) urgent scoliosis surgery waiting list without their knowledge or consent. He was first added to the list in February 2022 and underwent spinal surgery in November 2023.

Mr Tóibín has written to the Cathaoirleach of the Oireachtas Committee on Health, seeking an immediate recall of the committee and for Mr Harris to attend.

A spokesperson for the Tánaiste said that when Harvey’s case was first brought to his attention, his office contacted the Department of Health and the HSE to seek immediate clinical attention. The statement said Mr Harris’s priority at the time was ensuring the right medical interventions were put in place, and that a further assessment was carried out before surgery was scheduled.

The spokesperson added that Mr Harris has been assured that the Department of Health, HSE, and CHI will continue to engage with and support Harvey’s family.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has also urged Mr Harris to meet with Harvey’s parents.

CHI said it could not comment on individual cases but noted that the spinal surgery waiting list changes constantly as children undergo operations and new patients are added. It said progress is being made each month.

Speaking to RTÉ, Mr Tóibín accused Mr Harris of breaking a 2017 commitment, made while health minister, that no child would wait longer than four months for scoliosis surgery. He said Harvey’s case showed a lack of accountability, with the child spending 33 months on a waiting list before receiving surgery.

Mr Tóibín said Harvey’s operation was promised in 2022, scheduled for 2023, then cancelled. A year ago, the family learned he had been removed from the waiting list entirely without their knowledge.

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