Disappointed at lack of progress on the Walsh report on Symphysiotomy

Senator Mary Moran today expressed her disappointment at the lack of progress to date with the long awaited publication of the Oonagh Walsh report into the practice of Symphysiotomy.  It is estimated that 1,500 Irish women unknowingly and without consent underwent symphysiotomies during childbirth.

“I have been asking on a weekly basis about this report which was promised months ago. I was extremely disappointed to receive a reply again last week from Minister Reilly’s department that in fact the Department does not as yet have the report to hand.

Time is not on the side of these ladies. Many are now in their eighties and their suffering is certainly compounded by the lack of a satisfactory resolution for them. This delay adds unnecessarily to the hurt and despair to the one hundred and fifty known survivors and their families. Many of these survivors have been left permanently disabled, incontinent and in pain.

I am calling on the Minister for Health to make a statement on the matter as a matter of urgency and to give a definitive time when this long overdue report will be published”.