Paediatric pain consultant resignation
Deputy Calleary raised the resignation of Ireland’s only paediatric pain consultant and the impact on children’s pain services. The Tánaiste said he had only learned of it that morning and would not comment on the individual, but said any vacancy would be filled quickly.
This morning, thejournal.ie reports that Ireland's only paediatric pain consultant, Dr. Kevin McCarthy, has handed in his notice and said that the service is completely unsustainable. He has been highlighting a number of issues for some months now. This issue was highlighted to the Minister for Health in October. This is an incredibly important service. Every year more than 75 new children access the service to manage the most unimaginable pain. How has the Government allowed this situation to get to the point where parents are being left in the dark about treatment plans for their children and where Children's Health Ireland is saying it will try to fill the position next year? What will be done for parents whose children are in chronic pain now and why was this situation allowed to develop?
Comment on this
I am slow to comment on the decision of any one individual to leave his or her job. I do not know the circumstances around that. If a vacancy is created, it will be advertised quickly so that we can get somebody else in that role, providing important services. I do not want to go into the details around why one person has decided to step down. My understanding is that he is a very good person but I do not think it is appropriate for me to go into details when I do not have facts.