DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇪 Ireland /Health & Science

Surgeon at centre of concerns over children’s spinal surgery resigns

From Irish Times · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement Under investigation
  • Consultant paediatric surgeon Dr Connor Green has resigned from Temple Street Children’s Hospital after concerns about children’s spinal surgeries.
  • A health regulator found that unauthorised, non-medical-grade springs were used on three children without adequate oversight or properly informed parental consent.
  • An external review of hundreds of Green’s surgeries remains under way, while a Medical Council investigation has not yet reached findings.

Dr Connor Green, the consultant paediatric surgeon at the centre of concerns over children’s spinal operations, has resigned from Temple Street Children’s Hospital. He had been on extended leave since 2023, three years after concerns were first raised about surgeries he performed.

The concerns included the use of unauthorised springs in children’s spines, a high number of post-operative infections and repeated further surgeries among patients he treated. A report by the Health Information and Quality Authority, published last year, found that non-medical-grade springs had been used on three children without adequate hospital oversight.

not protected

· Health Information and Quality AuthorityThe regulator’s report described the protection provided to children amid governance weaknesses.

The report said the children were “not protected” from the “risk” of harm because of governance weaknesses. It also found that Green had not obtained written permission from his superiors to use the springs and had not secured properly informed consent from parents.

risk

· Health Information and Quality AuthorityThe regulator referred to the risk of harm identified in its report.

In February, the Health Service Executive said its review of hundreds of Green’s spinal surgeries had been extended. The review, commissioned in 2023, is examining his surgical work back to 2016. A second phase is looking more broadly at governance and capacity in orthopaedic services at Children’s Health Ireland. The first phase was conducted by retired orthopaedic consultant Professor Salvaduri Nayagam, and the full report is expected before the end of the year.

Green was referred to the Medical Council three years ago and undertook not to practise medicine. Its investigation remains ongoing, with no findings made. Children’s Health Ireland confirmed that Green is no longer an employee and said it would continue cooperating with the external reviews. The organisation said it remained committed to supporting patients and families affected by the issues identified in orthopaedic care at Temple Street.

Our focus remains on providing timely access to safe, high-quality care and support to the children, young people and families in our care.

· Children’s Health IrelandThe organisation described its stated priorities after confirming Green’s departure.
About this summary

Originally published by Irish Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog