Latest news with #sickchildren
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Government accused of putting ‘wrangling' over sick Palestinian children
The Government has been accused of putting 'bureaucratic wrangling' over the lives of seriously ill children from Gaza, after it emerged that patients selected for medical evacuation will not be flown to Ireland until autumn. Up to eight children were selected for urgent medical evacuation in June. However, it could be months before the paediatric patients will be moved out of the Middle East for treatment. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald told the Dail on Wednesday that the children's medical assessments are complete and that the hospitals and doctors have agreed to treat them – however, the evacuation has been held up over visa issues. Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill told Ms McDonald she will bring a memo to Cabinet stating that Ireland must also transfer patients' siblings for humanitarian reasons. Last year, the Government agreed to evacuate 30 sick children from Gaza. There were two successful evacuations of 12 children in December and May. However, the agreement at the time was to bring one guardian with each patient. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said that despite the agreement, it has been facilitating the arrival of patients' siblings, which the memo seeks to regularise. However, Ms McDonald said it is 'unacceptable' that the Government put 'bureaucratic wrangling' over the lives of very sick, injured children. 'The Government's proposed timeframe of autumn would be too late for some, or perhaps even all, of these children,' she added. 'This is a matter of life and death. They are waiting since early June, and it's vital that you, as head of government, intervene, expedite their arrival in Ireland with no further delay. And I ask you to do this with urgency. 'At least eight children were identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the HSE for urgent medical evacuation in early June. 'A month on, they're still waiting. Their medical assessments are complete, the doctors are ready. The hospitals are ready to receive and treat these children, but Government is stalling. 'Time is of the essence. Here it is a matter of life and death for these children. They tried to survive a genocide being carried out before the eyes of the world. 'I have corresponded with both the Tanaiste (Simon Harris) and the Minister for Health to advocate for their immediate evacuation. Minister (Jennifer) Carroll MacNeill tells me that she is bringing a memo to cabinet to seek Government approval for what she calls a more humanitarian approach to the evacuations, and that she fully expects, in her words, to welcome the next group of children in the autumn. That's months away, Taoiseach. That is an eternity away. 'The only humanitarian approach is to get these children out now.' Mr Martin said that in the previous arrivals, the 12 children were accompanied by 12 guardians and 21 family members. 'Planning is ongoing for the next medical evacuation operation,' he added. 'There is no delay. Nothing has been stopped. There is no bureaucratic wrangling. This is not subject to any Government memo. 'In other words, a Government memo will emerge, which will, in many respects, adopt an even more generous response in terms of the numbers of family members who can come or siblings of the injured child. 'So the presentation of a memo is not material to the next flight. It will regularise what's been happening already because the original government decision had, I think, one child and one person. But actually, in practice, what we've been doing is much more than that.'
Irish Times
09-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Medical evacuation of children from Gaza to Ireland ‘a matter of life and death', Mary Lou McDonald says
The immediate medical evacuation of sick children from Gaza to Ireland is a 'matter of life and death,' Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said. Ms McDonald has called on the Government to fly the next group of seriously ill children out of the war zone without delay. The State has agreed to help up to 30 children to leave Gaza. So far, 12 children have been brought to the Republic, in two separate missions. Ms McDonald raised the issue in the Dáil on Wednesday after The Irish Times reported that at least eight seriously ill children were selected for medical evacuation from Gaza to the Republic in June, but they are not expected to be flown out of the Middle East until September. READ MORE A memo will be brought to the Government to clarify that the children's siblings can also be evacuated along with the paediatric patients and their carers. Three people involved in the evacuation project had confirmed that they were advised that concerns about visas for the children's siblings had stalled the evacuation mission. Ms McDonald told the Dáil there was 'every chance' that these children will be killed while they wait for medical evacuation. She also called on the Government to add Jordan as another approved evacuation route. So far, all of the children brought to the State have come via Egypt. [ Gaza children chosen for treatment in Ireland not expected to fly here until September Opens in new window ] Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that there is 'no delay' to the evacuation mission, and the next group of children could be flown to Ireland before the memo is brought to Government. Ms McDonald also wrote to Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Tánaiste Simon Harris on Wednesday to ask that the evacuation be expedited. 'Your proposed time frame of autumn will be too late for some or all these children. It is a matter of life and death which demands immediate intervention,' she said. 'It is vital that you take the necessary action within your department as Minister for Health to expedite the arrival of the next group of 18 children. Not to do so represents gross negligence, and I implore you to act without further delay.'
Irish Times
09-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Gaza children chosen for treatment in Ireland not expected to fly here until September
At least eight seriously ill children were selected for medical evacuation from Gaza to Ireland in June, but paediatric patients are not expected to be flown out of the Middle East until September. A number of Irish doctors have confirmed they have agreed to treat specific patients from Ireland's most recent evacuation list. They remain concerned about delays in flying critically sick and injured children out of Gaza via Egypt. The Irish Times reported last week that doctors were told the medical evacuation of up to 18 children had stalled amid a concern over visas for the children's siblings. Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill now intends to bring a memo to Cabinet to recognise that Ireland must also evacuate patients' siblings for humanitarian reasons. READ MORE It was announced in September 2024 that Ireland would evacuate up to 30 sick children from Gaza, but the Government at the time had only agreed to bring each patient accompanied by one guardian. Ms Carroll MacNeill said: 'While the initial agreement allowed for one patient and one accompanying carer, we have in fact been facilitating the arrival of up to three immediate family members per child.' She said she believes this approach 'better reflects the urgent and compassionate nature of the situation'. She intends to formalise this and will seek the Government's approval for this 'more humanitarian approach', she said. 'I fully expect to be back at Dublin Airport in the autumn to welcome the next group of children and their families.' Two successful missions in December and May flew 12 paediatric patients to Ireland via Egypt. The children were accompanied by a mother or carer, while 21 other family members were also present. For humanitarian reasons, Ireland was not able to leave siblings of patients alone in Gaza without a surviving parent. This had prompted concerns in the Department of Health and Department of Justice that the Government had gone beyond what ministers originally agreed to. Officials from both Departments will meet to discuss the matter. Last weekend, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald wrote to Tánaiste Simon Harris to raise concerns that medical evacuations from Gaza have stalled. In response, Ms Carroll MacNeill wrote to Ms McDonald on Monday to confirm that Government departments and agencies were 'fully engaged to honour Ireland's commitment to receive up to 30 paediatric patients and their carers'. She said she looked forward to welcoming a third group of paediatric patients from Gaza and their carers and accompanying family members in the autumn when they have been clinically identified by the World Health Organisation and the HSE. But The Irish Times understands the HSE was informed that CHI had approved eight sick children for evacuation to Ireland last month. A number of doctors in Temple Street and Crumlin Children's Hospital have also confirmed they already agreed they have capacity to take specific children from a list of patients who were identified for treatment in Ireland. A number of children previously identified for clinical treatment in Ireland have since died. These children were separate from the more recent group of eight. Dr Morgan McMonagle, an Irish consultant vascular and trauma surgeon who has worked on medical humanitarian missions in Gaza, said he is concerned that if the Government waits until September 'there is a very, very good chance that Gaza won't exist, at the rate things are going'. 'Even for people who aren't injured, the chances of them being dead by September are very, very high as well.'
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Amazing recognition' for charity set up in memory of inspirational baby Evie
The judges had a hard task in choosing the Charity of the Year, but in the end, they awarded the honour to Team Evie, with Greg and Jill Johnston at its helm. This is a charity based in West Cumbria set up in memory of Greg's daughter Evie, who died in 2015. Throughout Evie's life he kept updating everyone on her progress and difficulties through Facebook. He said: 'It became apparent that Evie had quite a following of well-wishers and based on the greeting one particular consultant gave us on the ward each morning Team Evie was born! So many people sent love, support and hope Evie's way during her life and she inspired so many people. 'Evie's influence and inspiration spread far and wide, reaching places all over the world. When Evie passed away it became clear that as a community, Team Evie needed to continue her positive impact on the world and the charity was created! We aim to spread Evie's story, love and inspiration as far and wide as we can by helping as many children and their families as possible. 'Our work is saving children's lives and helping sick children and their families across our region. 'Over the last 10 years we have worked tirelessly to develop projects and donations which make a real impact for sick children and their families. 'We support families from the moment a child is taken ill or injured and throughout their journey. We know our work is making time in hospital easier for children and their families, reducing anxiety and saving children's lives.' Team Evie were absolute delighted to receive the award in the year that marks a decade of the charity. Speaking after the win, Greg said: 'Its amazing for Evie to have the win, because obviously as her parents and us wanting to do everything for her. 'To have it recognised the impact that she has had on so many families lives its been amazing.' Jill added that the award highlights how inspirational over the years. She said: 'Considering we are such a small charity, its amazing recognition.' The pair highlighted how evening like the Pride of Cumbria 'allow you to stop and reflect' on the achievements of the charity.
Irish Times
04-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Treatment of seriously ill Gaza children in Ireland stalls over visa concerns
A plan to evacuate 18 seriously ill children from Gaza to Ireland for potentially life-saving treatment has stalled because of Government concerns about granting special visas to the children's siblings. Three people familiar with the ongoing mission to bring sick children from Gaza to Ireland have confirmed they were told that the next evacuation is on hold until the visa issue is resolved. Several children who had been listed for treatment since the Government first agreed to start evacuating paediatric patients in 2024 have since died. Last September, the Cabinet agreed to bring up to 30 sick children and their mothers or carers to Ireland for treatment. Children listed for treatment here are suffering from serious conditions like cancer and kidney failure. READ MORE So far, 12 sick children have been flown via Egypt to Ireland in two sensitive operations in December and May. These were co-ordinated by the World Health Organisation, several Government departments, the Health Service Executive, Children's Health Ireland and the Red Cross. The paediatric patients have been accompanied by either a mother or a carer, and 21 other accompanying family members. In several cases, it was recognised for humanitarian reasons that a sick child's siblings could not be left behind in a war zone without a guardian. The Department of Health said all 45 Gazans, including mothers and siblings of paediatric patients, have received medical care for 'illnesses incurred as a result of living conditions in Gaza'. All have received Stamp 4 Visas, which grant them special permission to remain here for a specified time. Concerns have emerged about awarding those visas to patients' siblings between the departments of justice and health. One Government source said the medevac scheme is not operating 'as it was intended to'. Two sources who are familiar with the operation confirmed that they were told by officials in the Department of Health that the next evacuation cannot proceed until the visa issue is resolved. Thomas Donnelly, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Temple Street Children's Hospital, said he was one of a group of clinicians who held a meeting with the Department of Health about the medevac operation last month. 'We were told that no further evacuations would take place because of the disagreement about visas between the Department of Health and the Department of Justice,' he said. 'I specifically said that my waiting list is decreasing and no current patients would be affected by taking some of these patients on. Still, we were thanked for our 'restraint' and told there was nothing to be done because of the visa issue. 'Since then, children on our list to be evacuated have been killed and more will be killed while Government officials twiddle their thumbs. Only 12 children have been evacuated since the conflict began. This is shamefully low. We ask the Government to stop this needless delay asap so that these medical evacuations can resume.' The Department of Justice said that there have been 'no delays' in the 'processing' of visas for the medevac scheme. The Department of Health said that it is 'engaged with the Department of Justice in relation to visas for entry to Ireland, border control and registration for permission to stay in the state'. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald yesterday wrote to Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris, raising concerns that only 12 of 30 sick children had been evacuated from Gaza so far. 'It is of real concern to me that the Government is not applying the urgency to which the situation demands in evacuating the remaining 18 of 30 patients – all of whom are vulnerable and in desperate need of treatment and care,' wrote Ms McDonald.
