Dublin — February 11, 2026 — Ireland’s Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill revealed today that the long-awaited report into concerning spinal surgeries at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) Temple Street hospital remains unpublished due to ongoing legal challenges, sparking outrage from opposition lawmakers and leaving affected families in the dark.
Spinal Surgery Report Delayed; Hospital Completion Further Jeopardized
A critical report on children’s spinal surgeries is stalled by legal issues, while the new National Children’s Hospital faces further delays and thousands of unresolved defects.
- The Phase 1 report on spinal surgeries at CHI Temple Street was received by the HSE in September 2025, but its release is blocked by High Court proceedings.
- Around 60 families affected by the surgeries have been contacted, with potential follow-up consultations offered.
- The new National Children’s Hospital is facing a 40-month delay, with over 10,000 outstanding defects still needing resolution.
- Builders BAM Ireland have not delivered full early access to the hospital, impacting progress.
What’s the hold-up with the report? The Health Minister explained to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health that while she wants the report published, legal issues prevent its release. The Health Service Executive (HSE) was initially barred from sharing the report with her due to unrelated High Court proceedings, and she only received it last week.
Report Findings Remain Secret
Sinn Féin’s Health Spokesperson, David Cullinane, sharply criticized the situation, stating, “We don’t know what its recommendations or findings are … but they again have to find out that you have that report, from the media. I find that scandalous minister.” Minister Carroll MacNeill acknowledged the frustration, promising to investigate how the information leaked to the press before reaching the families.
The minister confirmed that letters were sent to approximately 60 families affected by the surgeries last night, offering potential follow-up consultations. She conceded with Cullinane that it was unacceptable that parents learned about the report’s existence through a Sunday newspaper.
An independent review, led by Professor Selvadurai Nayagam, a consultant in orthopaedics and trauma in Liverpool, was commissioned in 2023 after concerns arose regarding high rates of post-operative complications, infections, and the alleged use of unapproved springs during surgeries. The HSE initiated the review after staff raised patient safety concerns in 2022 regarding a small number of children with spina bifida; 17 cases were initially identified, later rising to 19, along with other reported complications.
Professor Nayagam’s review will now move on to assess the culture within Temple Street hospital, a process expected to be quicker than the first phase.
National Children’s Hospital Faces Continued Setbacks
Separately, the committee received an update on the troubled National Children’s Hospital project. Builders BAM Ireland have yet to deliver the agreed-upon early access to around 30% of the facility, leaving only 429 of the intended 1,700 rooms accessible. The minister indicated that BAM has been understaffed.
When questioned about the revised completion date, Minister Carroll MacNeill stated, “That’s up to BAM,” adding, “They really didn’t meet their commitments.”
The design team identified over 175,000 defects requiring rectification by BAM, with more than 10,000 still outstanding. These include issues with floors, walls, ceilings, mechanical systems, and leaks. Some problems relate to fire safety regulations, including warping of fire doors and seals.
The substantial completion date has been revised to April 30 of this year—the 18th delay—representing a 40-month postponement from the original December 2022 target. Partial access was granted on December 19, limited to the Ward Block on Level 6, the ground-level car park, two lifts, and a stair core.
Since then, CHI and the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board have deep-cleaned 360 rooms on Level 6, installed over 90% of the Electronic Health Record equipment, and completed the installation of all ICT equipment for that level. Deployment of approximately 3,000 pieces of medical and non-medical equipment was completed last week. However, full contractual early access to 30% of the building, promised by the previous minister Stephen Donnelly in October 2024, remains undelivered.
Worth a look
