Calls for Simon Harris to resign after young boy dies after waiting years for surgery

The mother of a young boy who was failed by the Irish healthcare system has called for the resignation of Simon Harris who was the Minister for Health at the time.

While serving as Minister for Health in 2017, Simon Harris pledged that no child in Ireland would wait more than four months for scoliosis treatment, but Harvey was forced to wait seven years.

Harvey Morrison Sherratt (9) waited seven years for scoliosis surgery, and by the time of the surgery at the end of 2024, his curvature had reached 130 degrees. He sadly passed away on July 29 after a short illness.

Last August, Harvey's mother, Gillian Sherratt said that her son was removed from the scoliosis surgery waiting list without their knowledge. 

When Harvey died on July 29 his heartbroken parents Gillian and Stephen announced Harvey's death saying "our little rockstar Harvey passed away in the arms of mum and dad." 

They now call for the resignation of Simon Harris and for the board of Children's Health Ireland to be disbanded.

In a post on X, Gillian said:

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"At this point we would ask all political parties to back our campaign to get #JusticForHarvey. Including seeing the resignation of @SimonHarrisTD The board of @CHI_Ireland to be disbanded, and for there to be a full public inquiry in to Children’s health Ireland spina bifida and complex orthopaedic care. These kids have been failed long enough and we need to see true systemic change brought in. #ResignHarris".

At this point we would ask all political parties to back our campaign to get #JusticForHarvey. Including seeing the resignation of @SimonHarrisTD
The board of @CHI_Ireland to be disbanded, and for there to be a full public inquiry in to Children’s health Ireland spina bifida and… pic.twitter.com/fMX4qeaEN5

— Gillian Sherratt (@GillSherratt23) August 11, 2025

In another post, Harvey's mother inserted a reply from Simon Harris which said: "And when Harvey's case was brought to my attention, I immediately contacted the Department of Health and CHI and sought additional clinical consultations, which I believe did take place. I was always of the view that it was very important that any medical interventions were, of course, clinician-led." 

She responded with: "He seems to forget that I emailed him a month after that Dáil date and I laid it all on the table. Don’t pretend you didn’t know Simon. Don’t you dare dishonour Harvey by pretending you did everything you could".

A quote today from @SimonHarrisTD on Harvey,
"And when Harvey's case was brought to my attention, I immediately contacted the Department of Health and CHI and sought additional clinical consultations, which I believe did take place. I was always of the view that it was very… pic.twitter.com/5W2WVqXUb8

— Gillian Sherratt (@GillSherratt23) August 11, 2025