Parents slam spine op failings

'Wrong' use of non-medical grade springs

- CIARA O'LOUGHLIN and CILLIAN SHERLOCK

PARENTS whose children wrongly received uncertified springs in spinal surgeries at Temple Street Children's Hospital have called for a public inquiry.

The chairman of the Children's Health Ireland (CHI) board Dr Jim Browne resigned yesterday after a "devastating" report was published.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) found the use of the springs in three operations - which were of a non-medical grade - was "wrong".

The report also said there was a lack of information provided to families on the new or experimental nature of the surgery and therefore not in line with the HSE's National Consent Policy.