TEMPLE STREET’S ORTHOPAEDIC services are “overloaded” with babies needing treatment for hip dysplasia, the Medical Independent reports.

The hospital’s chief said that the department could not cater for all the children who needed to be seen.

CEO Mona Baker confirmed that Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at the hospital, Prof Damian McCormack, had written to Dr Paul Gallagher, Consultant Paediatrician at Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise, about the issue. He has asked for regional orthopaedic departments to begin offering treatment in the area.

Temple Street has two dedicated nurses in a dysplasia clinic applying and changing Pavlik harnesses but they are only employed on a half-time basis.

From 1 September 2013 to 31 August 2014, some 559 children were seen in the Congenital Hip Dysplasia Outpatients Clinic. Some 310 children were new patients, 126 were children returning, and a further 123 were returning for a second time or more.

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Opinion: I had childhood cancer – I know St James is entirely unsuitable for a children’s hospital