CONFUSION REIGNS IN ANNE-MARIE CASE

- Family comes to ‘dead end’ trying to get answers from HSE -

There was further uncertainty over the case of Killavullen girl Anne-Marie Kelleher this week as comments attributed to the HSE suggest amendments have been made to the National Treatment Purchase Fund to finance her life saving surgery.

It was previously believed that despite a high profile plea for assistance the HSE would not allocate the necessary funds to have Anne-Marie’s operation carried out abroad.

Anne-Marie, 12, has a complex neurological condition called Rhett’s Syndrome, which has seen her spine bend due to scoliosis, a secondary symptom of her affliction. This bending causes her severe pain and puts potentially life-threatening pressure on her internal organs. She has been on a waiting list for surgery at Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin since spring, 2007.

Last week a mysterious donor, known only as Mr. X, contacted the Kelleher family through his solicitor offering €100,000 towards getting Anne-Marie’s operation carried out in Britain. However, despite fresh reports that the HSE will make the funds available through the National Treatment Purchase Fund, Anne-Marie’s mother Bernie says they have yet to hear from the HSE.

“We have yet to be approached,” Mrs Kelleher told The Avondhu, adding that the family have this week sought the assistance of a solicitor on the matter.

“News came to us last Friday through the media that the HSE had made a comment saying they would help, that they have amended the rules of the Treatment Abroad Scheme but as of yet we have had no official word".

Mrs Kelleher revealed that despite the new developments a solicitor acting on behalf of the mysterious donor contacted the family to explain that Mr X has instructed that the family can go ahead as planned and use his donation regardless. Mrs Kelleher is still unhappy with the HSE, irrespective of the latest developments.

"The HSE are responsible, they have a duty to fund my child’s surgery,” she insisted, “We will keep asking questions until they do. However, we’ve left it to our solicitor to find answers for now, she may get further than we have. We’ve come to a dead end”.

Shortly before going to press a spokesperson for the HSE contacted The Avondhu. The spokesperson claimed that Anne-Marie’s operation would be carried out in the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in London, with the HSE covering the costs.

However, when The Avondhu in turn contacted the Kelleher family, Mrs Kelleher confessed that this was the first she had heard of such developments, and that the HSE had still yet to make contact with her or her family.

“Unless they have since gotten onto our solicitor and we haven’t heard yet then no,” Mrs Kelleher said Wednesday evening, “we still have not had any contact from the HSE”.

 

back to homepage