The Irish Independent's View: Simon Harris survives Dail vote, but focus on his record on children's health is under scrutiny

"When he was health minister, Simon Harris had what is known in the medical profession as a great bedside manner. He would console the patient, express concern and pledge a remedy. The patient was the public, but the minister was in no condition to make such prognoses. The cycle of politics means ministers can often make promises they know they won't be in office long enough to fulfil,"

"The report found that continuing delays and the failure by the then government to deal with access to scoliosis treatment was having an impact on children's rights. A total of 236 patients aged 18 or under were awaiting treatment at the end of 2016. A series of heart-rending cases of children waiting for years put pressure on Mr Harris. "We're going to make sure by the end of this year no child waits longer for scoliosis procedure than four months," he said."

"The crisis turned into a scandal with the use of unauthorised springs as surgical implants in operations on children at Temple Street Hospital in Dublin. The failures in controls meant children were not protected from the risk of harm. And let us not get started on the numerous delays and cost overruns to the new National Children's Hospital, as that will only infuriate the public further. The signing of the contract for building the hospital also happened on Mr Harris's watch."

Simon Harris, as health minister, promised rapid reductions in waiting times for children needing scoliosis surgery but lacked the health-system capacity to fulfill such commitments. An Ombudsman for Children report found continuing delays and failures to address access, with 236 patients aged 18 or under awaiting treatment at the end of 2016 and waits up to 18 months. High-profile cases increased pressure and prompted a pledge that no child would wait more than four months, a target that was unattainable. The situation escalated into a scandal over unauthorised springs used as surgical implants, and the National Children's Hospital project suffered delays and cost overruns.

Read at Irish Independent