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John gets a card on Father’s Day too from the now nine-year-
old boy who has no memory of his mother who died of cervical
cancer in 2011, despite a previous clear smear test.
John’s devastation at the likely preventable death of his wife is
yet another example, to add to the growing number, of a
family torn apart by failures in the national cervical cancer
screening programme.
“I feel anger, I have a constant sense of being robbed,” John
said.
Speaking on RTÉ radio yesterday, the father-of-five from Co
Kildare, said he received a phone call last Monday asking him
to come to Tallaght Hospital “to discuss one of my wife’s
smear test results”.
He was told a test that returned a normal result in 2009 had in
fact contained cancer warning signs. He was told this had been
identified in a 2016 audit.
His wife had a previous scare in 2007 and underwent a
procedure at Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, to
remove precancerous cells. Four weeks later, results indicated
she was in the clear.
“We were overjoyed with that result,” John said.
“She asked the gynaecologist if it was possible to try for a child
and he said he didn’t see why not.”
By December 2007, his wife was pregnant. “It was great news,
we were overjoyed with that too,” John said.
A “fine and healthy” baby was born in August 2008 and a post-
pregnancy smear six months later came back clear in February
2009. The family went on their first foreign holiday in Salou,
Spain, in May, but two days in, John’s wife started to
haemorrhage.
She was bleeding quite a lot, she knew it wasn’t a period. She
just kept saying ‘it can’t be anything bad, I got an all-clear
smear in February’.
John said his wife used to look at her baby and cry and ask if he
was going to remember her.
“The thing is he doesn’t remember her, he was only two.”
John took his kids for counselling and sometimes they sit down
and watch DVDs of family life with their mum. He hasn’t told
his youngest that their mum is caught up in the current
CervicalCheck scandal because it would “re-open old wounds”.
John is now suing the HSE.
The HSE took a gamble with my wife’s life. They didn’t lose
anything and we lost everything.
Furious PAC members lashed out at the fact the memo was the
“complete opposite” to what Mr O Brien had said earlier in the
day.
Labour’s Alan Kelly telling Department of Health and HSE
officials the “devastating document sums up where we are
today”.
The PAC had earlier demanded Mr O Brien — who will be
forced to attend an emergency PAC meeting on Tuesday over
the memo — be sacked in response to the heart-
breaking Emma Mhic Mhathúna interview with Morning
Ireland yesterday.
However, in a series of confrontational exchanges which at one
point saw Mr O’ Brien tell TDs to “step back, step back” and
accuse them of “hysteria”, the HSE director general insisted he
had no reason to resign.
The developments occurred on another fast-moving day in the
cervical cancer tests scandal, during which President Michael D
Higgins took the unprecedented step of intervening in the
cervical cancer case, saying he will meet Ms Mhic Mhathúna
next week.
Meanwhile, the State Claims Agency confirmed four women
are also suing the State’s Breast Check system over “alleged
misdiagnosis”.
The poor telephone made you strain to hear her words and in a
way made those words all the more powerful.
“The time for defiant defence is over, the time to defend the
realm is over. Please stop,” said Calleary.
There were fresh calls for Tony O’Brien, the embattled director
general of the HSE to resign.
O’Brien for the second consecutive day rejected calls for him to
resign immediately. He went toe to toe with Fianna Fáil’s Marc
MacSharry, accusing the Sligo TD of spreading “hysteria”.
Because it turned out that it wasn’t one memo but in fact three
which were sent by the National Screening Service to O’Brien
between March and July 2016.
Not one.
O’Brien has now stepped down from the HSE, but what has yet
to end is the culture over which O’Brien has presided.
The sort of culture which has been at the heart of this scandal.
The sort of culture which forced Vicky Phelan to the High Court
to get justice.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said more heads will probably roll
before all of this is over.
Yet, does that include his own Health Minister, Simon Harris,
who has either been kept in the dark or did know and didn’t act
swiftly enough to deal with it?
Irish Examiner
✔
@irishexaminer
HSE director Tony O'Brien, who was also sent the 2016
memos, announced he would be stepping down just hours
after the documents were released.
"This was a very very serious case and it strikes me that the
strategy emanating from the Department of Health and
echoed by the HSE was one of batten down the hatches, circle
the wagons, keep the information from the women first and
foremost."
What we have seen in the last couple of days is proof, not that
we needed it, that women should not have to take to the
airwaves to get justice.
Stephen Teap, from Co Cork, has expressed his anger that his
wife Irene died without ever knowing that her smear tests had
been wrongly interpreted.
“But what they need is not platitudes, they need actions, and I
am determined we are going to deliver those actions.”
On the memos that have come to light, Vicky said that she was
not surprised by the tone, saying: "They were more worried
about themselves and being sued than about me as a patient'.
Tony O'Brien
@dghealthservice
"So, the issues that were being raised concerned the cover-up
and the lack of absolute regard for the women caught up in
this scandal, and his use of the word hysteria really sent me
over the edge yesterday when I heard that.
She wondered if someone could take him aside now and tell
him that this is not about him, saying "not by a long shot, this
was never about him but he doesn't seem to realise that".
Ms Phelan said she feels that Emma Mhic Mhathuna's
interview yesterday on Morning Ireland is what sent him over
the edge.
She revealed that the interview made her "very angry", and
that her interview was "very raw" as this news was very new to
her while Vicky had time to process her diagnosis out of the
public eye.
The scandal has forced the head of the HSE Tony O'Brien to
step down admitting that there were failures in telling women
about incorrect smear test results.
They said that they hope the settlement reached will allow Ms
Phelan to gain additional treatment and an improved
prognosis and quality of life.
"It's long overdue and it's a disgrace that I had to break down
for that to happen."
HSE Ireland
✔
@HSELive
Cases where the audit showed their test could have provided
209* women
a different result:
202 women
Contact made to date with:
/families
*The work of the SIMT to review information available has identified an additional woman that
requires follow-up.
Most women have at this stage been contacted and meetings either held or arranged to discuss the
audit and the response.
Information for
Colposcopy Clinics and Circulated by email May 3
Cancer Centres
Advice Sheet for Published on cervicalcheck.ie and circulated to a wider range of patient
and advocacy organisations May 4
Women
Information about the CervicalCheck audit, and advice for anyone concerned, is
on cervicalcheck.ie.
Last updated on: 10 / 05 / 2018
https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/media/pressrel/cervical-
check-daily-report-10-may-2018.html
We are committed to protecting women’s health and to always sharing information about a
person’s care with them. Our standards fell far short of this during the CervicalCheck audit, and
for that we are deeply sorry.
This week, women in Ireland have been understandably worried following the serious failings in
the CervicalCheck audit. The HSE wants to acknowledge this breach of trust and to urge women
in Ireland to continue to take part in cervical screening, which is a life-saving public health
measure.
https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/newsfeatures/cervicalch
eck/cervicalcheck-one-page-advice-sheet-for-women.pdf
32 CERVICAL CHECK Awareness campaign launched.
Confidential Recipient. Leigh Gath speaks out 2015
https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/publications/healthmatters/he
althmatterspdfmarch2015.pdf
Chairperson and members I would like to begin by reiterating on behalf of the HSE my sincere
apologies to all those women who have been affected and families involved in the CervicalCheck
controversy, and others who though not directly involved have experienced any distress by what they
have heard and read in recent days. I also wish to state that I did contact Ms Vicky Phelan to apologise
to her for the delay in telling her that her test results had been a false negative and I want to sincerely
make that apology again here today to her and her family.
At the centre of this issue was our failure to communicate to the women that were the subject of the
audit. Those women should have been informed and that is something that will happen from now on. It
is essential that we re-establish confidence in our cervical screening programme, which is a critical
public health initiative.
CervicalCheck Screening Programme
CervicalCheck, the HSE’s National Cervical Screening Programme has provided a population based
cervical screening programme to the women of Ireland since 2008. It is important to be clear and to
understand [to re-emphasise] that cervical screening is not a test for cancer, but a means of preventing
it. Cervical screening works by looking for changes in the cells of the cervix (neck of the womb) using
a smear test (cervical cytology). The earlier abnormal cell changes are found, the easier they are to treat
and the treatment of these changes in the cells of the cervix means that the risk of developing cervical
cancer is reduced. Screening is internationally accepted as a preventative health measure.
While it is recognised that no screening test is 100 per cent accurate, cervical screening is the most
effective method of reducing a woman’s risk of developing cervical cancer. By achieving and
maintaining the targeted coverage rate of 80%, CervicalCheck has the potential to reduce the incidence
and mortality of cervical cancer significantly.
Since 2008, women in Ireland have been attending in increasing numbers. CervicalCheck has achieved
80% coverage rate amongst eligible women a figure that is amongst the highest in EU countries. Latest
figures from the NCRI show that the incidence of cervical cancer in Ireland has reduced by around 7%
per annum since 2010-2015. This means that fewer women will develop cervical cancer and there will
be fewer deaths.
To date, CervicalCheck has:
There are 15 clinics across the country which provide colposcopy services as part of the CervicalCheck
programme. Continued successful collaboration between the programme and colposcopy clinics
nationwide has led to sustained improvements to colposcopy services and eliminated waiting lists. The
high standard of colposcopy has ensured that women who require a colposcopy are guaranteed timely
access to a standardised level of quality assured care.
International Peer Review of quality assurance standards
In 2009 CervicalCheck participated in an external international peer-review of the CervicalCheck
quality assurance (QA) standards. The international peer review panel consisted of the following
international experts:
Dr Marc Arbyn, Unit of Cancer Epidemiology, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels,
Belgium
Dr Christine Bergeron, Head of the Pathology Department, Laboratoire Cerba, France
Dr Maggie Cruickshank, Consultant in Gynaecological Oncology, School of Medicine,
University of Aberdeen, Scotland
Dr Maire Duggan, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary,
Canada
Dr Shaun Firth, General Practitioner and Member of UK Advisory Committee on Cervical
Screening
Dr Joseph A. Jordan, Consultant Gynaecologist, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, UK
Professor Julietta Patnick CBE, Director, NHS Cancer Screening Programmes, UK
It has been asserted that in some way the screening programme in this country is sub-standard to the
US as it is asserted that the US screens every year. However in 2009 HIQA in its Report of the
evaluation of the use of resources in the national population – based cancer screening programmes
and associated services (Oct. 2009) presented the recommended screening interval internationally. In
the case of the USA recommended intervals are ‘initially two smears one year apart, then every three
years’. It is also important to note that much of the US system involves a self-select process which in
effect is a voluntary presentation and not a calling (or invitation) system as in Ireland.
HIQA goes on to say in that 2009 report and I quote ‘A systematic review of the existing evidence base
for the optimal age-range and screening interval for cervical screening was undertaken in order to
determine if the current age-range (25-60 years) could be narrowed or the screening intervals
increased. Based on the literature review, the current age range and screening interval adopted in the
CervicalCheck programme in Ireland would appear to be consistent with the international evidence
base’.
The HIQA report also noted that CervicalCheck administration has achieved the ISO 9001 - 2000
quality certification and maintains this standard through regular internal and external audit. A
comprehensive smeartaker training prospectus has also been developed and underpins a smear taking
training programme developed and delivered in partnership with the Royal College of Surgeons in
Ireland (RCSI), the National University of Ireland, Galway and the Irish College of General
Practitioners (ICGP).
Procurement of Cytology Laboratory Services
There has been much commentary in relation to the outsourced CervcialCheck laboratory services. In
that regard I would like to make the following comments.
A procurement process for the provision of cytology laboratory services was undertaken in December
2007 with the publication of a notice in the Official Journal of the European Communities in line with
public procurement regulations. The requirement of the NCSS was that each potential contractor would
need to meet certain criteria, including that they must: hold third party accreditation from a recognised
accreditation body to International Standard ISO 15189 have capacity to screen a minimum of 25,000
cervical smear samples per year have capacity and ability to process smears within a 10-day turnaround
in order to facilitate the delivery of results to women within four weeks of their smear test hold
independent quality accreditation of the service. On completion of the procurement process, a private
sector provider of laboratory services, Quest Diagnostics Inc, was appointed for the provision of
cytology laboratory services. In addition to the criteria above, each slide analysed by the laboratory is
examined twice by two separate cytologists.
CervicalCheck, in line with public procurement guidelines, re-tendered for laboratory services in 2009
and again in 2012. Following the 2009 procurement process, Medlab Pathology Ltd was appointed
along with the previous incumbent Quest Diagnostics Inc. In 2012, a further tendering process took
place and the two laboratories mentioned above were appointed under a HSE Framework Agreement.
This Framework Agreement is still active today and both Quest Diagnostics and Medlab Pathology are
still providing cytology and HPV laboratory services, under contract, on behalf of CervicalCheck.
Serious Incident Management Team (SIMT)
Chairman and members I now want to address the findings of the SIMT report. I have submitted the
full report to the Committee with the Opening Statement so I will highlight some of the key issues
here.
Over the past week there has been considerable public focus on and concern about the Cervical
Screening service. Much of this concern stems from an audit of 1,482 cases of cervical cancer reported
to the Programme in the period between 2008 and 2018.
CervicalCheck clinical audit process
The CervicalCheck clinical audit process examines the screening history of all NOTIFIED cases of
cervical cancer, with a date of diagnosis since the programme commenced in September 2008. The
cases covered by the audit were those cases of cervical cancer notified to the Programme and not the
larger number of cases notified to the National Cancer Registry for the same period.
The programme advised Department officials on Friday evening that the figures were based on the
cancer registry figures and it was on this basis that the Minister was briefed. It was subsequently
determined by the SIMT that this was incorrect.
The audit process is an opportunity to see if any aspect of a programme could be improved. The
process can also provide more detailed information to women on the reasons why their cancer was not
prevented, as well as information on the effectiveness and limitations of screening.
Of the 1,482 cases notified and logged to date, 442 cases (29%) were flagged for review of one or more
elements of the cervical screening pathway – programme operation, screening, cytopathology and HPV
testing, colposcopy or histopathology. Cases are reviewed by an internal review group, with the
support of an independent pathologist. The most common review type, as expected in a cervical
screening programme, is of cytology [smear test], due to its inherent limitations as a screening test.
Cytology reviews are performed internally by the original reporting laboratory, and by independent
laboratories if a further opinion is required.
Communication of Review results
In February 2016, the programme commenced formally communicating review outcomes of historical
notified cervical cancer cases where prior cytology had been reviewed to the consultant doctor looking
after an individual woman diagnosed with cervical cancer. All historical reviews were communicated
to treating doctors by October 2016 and the programme has been communicating current cases since
that date.
Open Disclosure
While the audit process established by CervicalCheck is seen as good practice and has the potential to
make an important contribution to improving the quality of the programme, there was some evidence
that the women whose cytology [smear test] had been reviewed as part of the audit process had not
been informed either of the review or the outcome as it pertained to them.
The women whose cases were reviewed, already had a diagnosis of cancer so the outcome of the
review of their cytology [smear test] would not have changed their diagnosis or treatment. They were
entitled however to know that there case was reviewed and the outcome of that review. This was
particularly important where the review team drew conclusions that were different to the original
interpretation of the smear result.
Number of women who should have been communicated with
The SIMT established that there were 208 women who should have been communicated with in
relation to the review process.
These were women where the CervicalCheck review team interpretation of their smear result was
different to the original smear interpretation. Of these;
175 cases reviewed had an interpretation that was different to the original smear result and
based on the opinion of the review team, this would have led to a different clinical escalation
[i.e. referral for biopsy / colposcopy].
33 cases reviewed had an interpretation that was different to the original smear result but
based on the opinion of the review team, they would not have recommended different clinical
management other than an earlier repeat smear.
Each of the 162 women who had not been told of the review outcome would be phoned on
Monday 30th April and Tuesday 1st May 2018.
They would be offered an appointment to meet the appropriate senior clinician during the
week ending Saturday 5th May 2018.
There were 17 women in this cohort who have died. It has been established that 2 of these women had
the results of their review communicated to them before their death.
It is acknowledged that in addition to a diagnosis of cancer, finding out at this stage that they were the
subject of a review will be distressing. The SIMT is confident that the clinicians meeting with these
women or their next of kin will be very sensitive to the context of this information.
While the women who were the primary focus and concern of the work of the SIMT had all received a
diagnosis of cancer at the time of their review and the review would not have changed this outcome,
they were all entitled to know the Review had been conducted and its outcome as it related to them.
This openness and transparency should lie at the heart of a caring and compassionate healthcare
system.
Number of cases audited
During the course of its work it became evident to the SIMT that the number of cases audited by the
Screening Programme varied from the number of cases of cervical cancer reported to the National
Cancer Registry over the same period.
The SIMT immediately took action, escalating this matter to the Director General. This will result in;
The National Cancer Registry being mandated to share its data with the Programme.
The lists being reconciled.
An immediate audit of these remaining cases being undertaken.
Conclusion
I would like to conclude by saying that I welcome the announcement by the Minister that he is
establishing a statutory investigation which will be carried out by HIQA. I also welcome the
appointment of an International Clinical Expert Panel to provide the women concerned with an
individual clinical review. The HSE will fully cooperate with both processes to ensure we establish all
of the facts surrounding what has occurred and above all so that we can learn from what has happened
and ensure it does not occur again.
This concludes my opening statement and together with my colleagues we will endeavour to answer
any questions you may have.
Thank you.
Last updated on: 02 / 05 / 2018
He admitted there were clear communication failures when it
comes to telling women about the false negatives on their
smear tests.
@dghealthservice
Apr 9
More
https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/media/pressrel/cervical-
check-daily-report-may-5.pdf
INMO sends best wishes to all Midwives
print
Press Release 05.05.18
INMO sends best wishes to all Midwives on International Day of the Midwife
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), as a member of the International Confederation of
Midwives (ICM), the worldwide body for midwives, sends best wishes to all midwives today, the
International Day of the Midwife, which is celebrated on May 5 every year. The theme for the day is
“Midwives leading the way with quality care”.
The International Day of the Midwife is an occasion for every individual midwife to think about the many
others in the profession, to make new contacts within and outside midwifery, and to widen the
knowledge of what midwives do for the world.
This year's theme resonates with the first of ICM's three Strategic Directions, established in the 2017-
2020 Strategy as Quality, Equity, Leadership. Midwives leading the way with quality care is significant in
highlighting the vital role that midwives play not only in ensuring women and their newborns navigate
pregnancy and childbirth safely, but also receive respectful and well-resourced maternity care that can
create a lifetime of good health and wellbeing beyond the childbirth continuum.
The INMO and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) run an all-Ireland conference for midwives for
every year and the bonds between the two organisations and their friendly relationship have always
been strong. This year saw both organisations sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which
marks a unique international partnership between the two midwife representative bodies. Under this
Memorandum of Understanding the organisations will effectively agree to adopt the members of their
sister organisation when they are working, on a temporary basis, in the jurisdiction of the other
representative trade union.
This partnership represents a unique initiative between trade unions across borders. In the context of
Brexit it will strengthen the ability of midwives to practice and educate regardless of the outcome of
Brexit negotiations. Midwives who are members of the INMO, under a licence agreement which is part
of the Memorandum of Understanding, will now have a gateway into the massive repository of midwifery
research and education, provided by the RCM, for members. 2018 is the centenary year of the first all-
Ireland Midwives Act and the launching of the partnership is the first of a series of celebrations of the
midwifery profession on the island of Ireland throughout the year.
The quality of a midwife’s care is of paramount importance. Midwives who are educated, trained,
licenced, and regulated to ICM standards work beyond the parameters of just one situation, one setting,
one community or one country: they are able to lead the way towards improved maternal and newborn
health outcomes locally, nationally and globally. The dedication of midwives to women is renowned.
They provide appropriate education, counselling and antenatal care that is adapted to the specific needs
of the woman.
INMO President, Martina Harkin-Kelly, speaking on the International Day of the Midwife said:
“It remains the absolute conviction, of the INMO, that midwifery standards and, best practice, are
being increasingly pressurised due to our continuing high birth rate against a background of a
shortage of midwives. Immediate action is now required on recruitment and retention of
midwifery staff to ensure that the National Maternity Strategy is implemented in full with ratios of
1 Midwife to 29.5 Births.”
-ends-
https://www.inmo.ie/Home/Index/217/13194
HSE Clinical Expert Panel address
Cervical Check scandal over the concerns
of Department of Health cover up using
Vicky Phelans Case of the confidential
clauses which they forgot to mention here
May 4, 2018
Department of Health
Published on May 4, 2018
SUBSCRIBE 32
On May 3rd, the Department of Health convened a Clinical Expert
Panel to address public concerns surrounding Ireland's national
cervical screening programme.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=R9Zse
Pl17Bo
1
Tony O’Brien has quit his post
May 11th 18
Tony O’Brien has launched a personal attack on TDs after he was forced to
resign as HSE chief executive.
“I sometimes look across the room and hope their children will never see and
hear how they behave,”he said.
Mr O’Brien was forced to step down over his oversight of the Cervical Check
scandal.
Two terminally ill mothers - Vicky Phelan and Emma Mhic Mhathuna - who
were given incorrect cervical check results had called for Mr O’Brien to resign.
ADVERTISING
inRead invented by Teads
Mr O'Brien had defended the cervical cancer screening programme which he
said has detected 50,000 abnormalities which led to early treatment which
probably avoided "hundreds of cancers and ultimately deaths".
Mr MacSharry said that failures have left "an entire nation of women
terrified".
This morning Mr MacSharry said the forum of the PAC is about accountability
and there a "robust style".
He also said that the issue "is about the women of Ireland, not Tony O'Brien."
TD Marc McSharry has defended his questioning style at the Public Accounts
Committee, saying his questioning of outgoing HSE boss Tony O'Brien
yesterday is consistent with his style at previous committee hearings.
Speaking to RTE Radio One's Today with Sean O'Rourke, Mr McSharry said;
"Looking back, there is nothing I would change."
"I can understand he's not happy, he's lashing out somewhat," he said of Tony
O'Brien.
"But this is not about Tony O'Brien, this is about the women of Ireland, life
and death and the accountability people are entitled to.
"I don't think, I can understand him tweeting, but I think before the end of
today someone in the HSE needs to take him aside and say this is not about
you.
"I have no difficulty in anybody criticising me. I get the fact that as a public
representative I am open to scrutiny and accountability, I don't think Mr
O'Brien gets it."
He continued; "I heard Morning Ireland yesterday and I heard that harrowing
story [Emma Mhic Mhathúna's story].
"The biggest issue, who this is about, is the women of Ireland and not Tony
O'Brien."
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/outgoing-hse-chief-tony-obrien-
launches-personal-attack-on-tds-36896522.html
The FULL Briefing Document that the Public Acc's Committee received that exposed the
knowledge that Tony O'Brien DID know about the audits and much more. This is a pdf
document which has the 3 memo's\letters that were sent to the health dept and other
peoples. So many more people in HIGH Positions in various health bodies knew of this.
https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/4455629/Pac.pdf
Vicky Phealan one of the woman who
was failed
"This was never about him, but he
doesn't seem to realise that." Vicky
Phelan reacts to Tony O'Brien
resignation
More heads will have to roll."
Vicky Phelan, the terminally-ill Limerick mother whose cancer diagnosis brought the
CervicalCheck scandal to light, has voiced her opinion on the news of Tony O'Brien's
resignation as well as his latest backlash at the Public Accounts Committee.
Phelan joined Richard Curran on Friday morning's episode of the Today programme
on RTÉ to discuss the news of O'Brien's resignation, which broke on Thursday
night only days after he was backed to continue in the role until July by Taoiseach
Leo Varadkar.
It's believed that the emergence of damning internal HSE memos, discussed by the
Public Accounts Committee on Thursday, put pressure on Mr O’Brien to resign.
Phelan began her interview on the Today programme by thanking Marc MacSharry
for his questioning of O'Brien before the PAC yesterday.
"His tweet smacks of someone who is used to getting his own way, throwing one's
toys out of the pram springs to mind," Phelan began, referencing the outgoing HSE
head's recent post to Twitter.
"So, the issues that were being raised concerned the cover-up, and the lack of absolute
regard for the women caught up in this scandal and his use of the word hysteria really
sent me over the edge yesterday when I heard that.
"Can someone not take him aside now and tell him that this is not about him, not by a
long shot. This was never about him but he doesn't seem to realise that."
The 43-year-old then spoke of how she feels about the case of Emma Mhic Mhathúna,
the mother-of-five who is also facing a terminal cancer diagnosis due to the HSE
breakdown.
Phelan stated that she saw Mhic Mhathúna's interview, mentioning that the Kerry
woman's words were very raw as this was news to her, while Vicky had time to
process her diagnosis out of the public eye.
She also thanked Mhic Mhathúna for her interview, as she believed this is what
pushed O'Brien "over the edge".
"Nobody could have stayed in a position after a powerful interview like that," Phelan
said.
Phelan then spoke about how Health Minister Simon Harris had phoned her
personally on Friday morning to tell her of the steps he's putting in place to deal with
the situation. However, Phelan believes that O'Brien's resignation was just the start of
it.
On the memos that have come to light, Phelan told Richard Curran that she wasn't
surprised by the tone, claiming that the HSE prioritised finances over patient care.
"They were more worried about themselves and being sued than about me as a
patient," she said.
'These memos are even more damning, to be honest. Containment and media
management was the priority, not the women who have been affected by this."
Emma Mhic Mhathúna - a mother of five who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2016, three years
after a smear test result incorrectly came back as normal - yesterday welcomed the resignation of HSE
director general Tony O'Brien may 11th 2018
https://www.facebook.com/thejournal.ie/videos/18822628917
94126/UzpfSTEwMDAwNTQ3MjYwNDQ4Nzo4MTk1MzU1Nz
gyMzg4NTU/
Vicky Phealan one of the woman who was failed
https://soundcloud.com/rte-radio-1/vicky-phelan-reacts-obrien-resignation
This tweet from the man who was handed the reins of the health system says it all about
the culture that permeates the HSE. One of indifference, selfishness and a thorough lack
of empathy. Three characteristics that should never define an organisation set up to
provide health services. Yet this is what we have representing our public health system.
When you see into the mind of the leader, you wonder if this is also how the troops think?
It's easy to be the fall guy when you are already on the way out with a fat pension. I agree. This scandal
could not have happened if Fianna Fáil didn't create the HSE and then outsourced the screenings to
America. Then it was facilitated by Fine Gael through their agreed privatisation agenda with Fianna
Fáil. It's important for people to understand that when it comes to multi decade plans, these two parties
are completely in lock step. Nothing happens in this state without their prior approval and agreement
The cheek of that bastard. On the same level as leo always trying to get that one over the
other. Count yourself lucky mr o brien that you live in ireland because if anywhere else you'd
be gone into hiding
State Claims, Management of Legal Costs and Open Disclosure (Implications
of CervicalCheck revelations)
2016 Financial Statements of the State Claims Agency
2016 Financial Statements of the HSE
https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/oireachtas-tv/video-
archive/committees/1652/
women and the State through the HSE in terms of the health
... We found out yesterday that the State Claims ... with the
facts Any open disclosure
https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debateRecord/dail/201
8-05-03/debate/mul@/main.pdf
They're running scared now
https://health.gov.ie/wp-
content/uploads/2018/05/0864_001.pdf
Project Ireland 2040 National health Development Plan 2018—
2027
https://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/5569359-
NDP-strategy-2018-2027_WEB.pdf
Making Sense of Screening
Making Sense of Screening is a guide published in 2015 by Sense about Science, a UK charity. It
explores the harms and benefits of health screening programmes
http://senseaboutscience.org/wp-
content/uploads/2016/11/Makingsenseofscreening.pdf
General Scheme of a Bill to Regulate Termination of Pregnancy
General Scheme of a Bill to Regulate Termination of Pregnancy
https://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/General-
Scheme-for-Publication.pdf
Policy Paper on Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy The
Joint Oireachtas Committee published its Report on the Eighth
Amendment of the Constitution, on Wednesday plans 20th
December 2017 published 9 MAR 2018
https://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Policy-
paper-approved-by-Goverment-8-March-2018.pdf
The Joint Oireachtas Committee published its Report on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, on
Wednesday 20th December 2017. The Committee’s Report reflected the majority position of its
membership with dissenting positions and voting records set out on Appendix 4 of the Committee’s
Report.
On the 29th of January 2018, the Government approved the holding of a referendum on Article 40.3.3
before the end of May 2018, subject to the timely passage of a Constitutional Amendment Bill on the
matter by the Houses of the Oireachtas.
It will be a matter for the Irish people to consider and determine by way of Referendum whether or not
to amend the Constitution. This paper outlines policies which the Government decided it would seek to
give effect to in a General Scheme of a Bill regulating termination of pregnancy in Ireland should the
proposed referendum be passed. The policies outlined in this paper would only be relevant in the event
that the proposed referendum on Article 40.3.3 is passed.
In order to transform these polices into a General Scheme, these policies will require further scrutiny,
refinement and definition taking account of legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General.
https://health.gov.ie/blog/publications/policy-paper-on-
regulation-of-termination-of-pregnancy/
legal advice received on options for a Referendum on Article
40.3.3 of the Constitution
https://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Info-note-
on-legal-advice-received-on-options-for-a-Referendum-
300118.pdf
Health Service Capacity Review 2018 Health Service Capacity
Review 2018 – Executive Report The Health Service Capacity
Review forecasts future capacity requirements in acute
hospitals, 2018
https://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/71580-DoH-
Dublin-Report-v6.pdf
Should be jailed
perhaps just perhaps doctor leo varadkar cant be held accountable by the dail, should he
face a fitness to practice committee and be struck off? indeed is he still registered as a
medical practitoner?
Emma Mhic Mhathúna - a mother of five who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2016, three years
after a smear test result incorrectly came back as normal - yesterday welcomed the resignation of HSE
director general Tony O'Brien may 11th 2018
https://www.facebook.com/thejournal.ie/videos/18822628917
94126/UzpfSTEwMDAwNTQ3MjYwNDQ4Nzo4MTk1MzU1Nz
gyMzg4NTU/
EMMA MHIC MHATHÚNA CALLS ON GARDAI TO ARREST TONY O BRIEN
Neil Prendeville is speaking to Mum of 5 Emma Mhic Mhathúna, who is dying of cervical cancer.
Emma says she has gone to her local Garda station and called on them to arrest HSE's Tony O' Brien
for attempted murder.
CoverUp #Corruption #Criminal
When you put these two picture's together they tell there own story. Cover up and corruption as
innocent women die.
Picture No 1 Letter from our Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to Tony O'Brien of the HSE.
Picture No 2 Today's headline which includes the sub- headline "Explosive memo sent when Varadkar was Health
Minister.
https://www.facebook.com/events/192752291353524/
Updated at 5.45pm
THE US LABORATORY at the centre of the cervical cancer
screening controversy in Ireland sought a confidentiality
clause in the legal challenge brought forward by Vicky
Phelan.
The CervicalCheck scandal came into the public eye last
month when Phelan, whose cervical cancer is now
terminal, settled a High Court action against the HSE and
Clinical Pathology Laboratories (CPL) for €2.5 million over
incorrect smear test results from 2011.
Ciaran Breen, Director of the State Claims Agency (SCA),
spoke to the Oireachtas Finance Committee about the case
today.
Breen described the situation as “tragic”, noting it “has had
dreadful consequences for Ms Phelan and her family”.
“I want to assure the committee that, at every stage of our
involvement in this case, we have been acutely aware of the
consequences, trauma and pain Ms Phelan and her family
have suffered, and continue to suffer.
“In carrying out our statutory role in managing this case, we
have been mindful of the need to ensure that, wherever
possible, nothing we did would add to the suffering of Ms
Phelan and her family.
“In managing personal injury litigation taken by persons
against the State, we never forget that our work frequently
involves the management of difficult, complex and
traumatic cases taken by persons who have suffered injury,
sometimes of a catastrophic nature.”
Breen noted that the SCA had a role in Phelan’s case because
one of the parties she took a case against was the HSE,
which is one of the agency’s clients. The case was also taken
against the US laboratory that carried out her smear test,
CPL.
“We managed the case on behalf of the HSE but the US
laboratory had separate legal representation and a separate
legal strategy,” Breen stated.
“The primary legal issue in the case centred on the alleged
misreading of Ms Phelan’s original smear test. The US
laboratory accepted that legal liability for this issue rested
with it alone and that the HSE was not legally responsible
for the misreading.
As part of the US laboratory’s defence of this issue, its
lawyers sought a confidentiality clause that would have
restricted Ms Phelan from disclosing details of the
settlement of the case.
Breen added that the SCA opposed the use of a
confidentiality clause in the case.
“Our view is that the US laboratory’s insistence on a
confidentiality clause was a significant factor in the failure of
the attempt to resolve the claim through mediation.
“Mediation is our preferred route for resolving cases of this
nature as it would have eliminated the need for court
hearings or a contested court action,” Breen stated, noting
that 98% of all cases managed by the SCA are resolved
without the need for a contested court hearing.
Inquiry
Meanwhile, the Cabinet has been discussing the terms of
reference of the scoping inquiry into the CervicalCheck
scandal.
Health Minister Simon Harris also informed the Cabinet of
his intention to appoint a new HSE board and introduce
legislation to allow this.
RTÉ News is reporting that ministers Finian McGrath,
Michael Ring and Katherine Zappone told their Cabinet
colleagues that Tony O’Brien, Director General of the HSE,
should step down amid the growing controversy.
The scoping inquiry will commence this week and engage
directly with Phelan and any other woman affected who may
wish to have an input.
Speaking today, Harris said the investigation will be led
by Dr Gabriel Scally, an expert from the UK. Dr Scally has
had a distinguished career as a senior public health doctor
and advisor with the UK Department of Health, as well as
the NHS, and is currently the President of Epidemiology and
Public Health section of the Royal Society of Medicine.
Dr Scally has also asked an international expert in women’s
health, Dr Karin Denton, Consultant in Cellular Pathology
North Bristol NHS Trust, to provide assistance in
undertaking this review.
TheJournal Politics
✔
@TJ_Politics
http://www.thejournal.ie/cervical-check-timeline-3985728-
Apr2018/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQjP9xhczQI
They said that the audit is used to test and assure the
standard of work that is being done and it was undertaken
after the women were diagnosed.
They said: "That is to say that the Cervical Screening
Programme did not withhold information from any woman that
delayed their diagnosis of cancer. Rather the audit process of
their previous smears was undertaken as a response to them
having been diagnosed and of this being notified to
CervicalCheck.
"When CervicalCheck is notified that a woman has been
diagnosed with cervical cancer, the women’s previous
screening history can be reviewed. CervicalCheck carried out
an audit of 1,482 previous cervical screening tests on women
who were diagnosed with cervical cancer from 2008 to 2018.
Clinical audit is used to test and assure the standard of work
that is being done by a health service or facility.
"So, yes, disappointment, anger, but the big issue for the
majority is the lack of communication, the open, honest
communication.
"Of course this is what has affected the trust in the service,
are we going to be told the truth?"
Update 7.43pm: A "potentially considerable number" of
cervical cancer screening tests undertaken by Cervical Check
have not been audited - meaning the scale of the cervical
cancer crisis could be far higher than first believed, writes
Fiachra Ó Cionnaith.
Health Minister Simon Harris told the Dáil tonight that the
numbers revealed so far this week may not be the full picture.
The fresh revelations mean there could be many more women
who should have had their initial smear tests acted on.
Earlier today, the Irish Cancer Society met with the Minister to
seek reassurances on behalf of the women affected by the
CervicalCheck scandal and all the women who are now
worried about their smear results.
This is a bombshell.
Sean Defoe
@SeanDefoe
1 May
Replying to @SeanDefoe
Dept of Health has published the briefing note given to Simon
Harris before Vicky Phelan's case RE CervicalCheck
http://
health.gov.ie/wp-content/upl
oads/2018/05/16.04.2018-Briefing-for-Min-Harris-CervicalCheck-
redacted-of-personal-information.pdf
…
Sean Defoe
@SeanDefoe
162 out of 208 women whose files were audited were not told
they were part of a HSE lookback.
Bridget Doherty is CEO of Patient Focus – and they have
been hearing from women who had abnormal smears that
were missed – as well as those who could have had earlier,
less invasive treatment.
"We have talked for years about Open Disclosure so why they
didn't practice this this time, we just want to know why," said
Ms Doherty.
Vicky Phelan.
Simon Harris.
Vicky Phelan.
http://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/0864_001.pdf
Dept of Health has published the briefing note given to Simon Harris before Vicky Phelan's case
RE CervicalCheck
http://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/0864_001.pdf
Health Minister says he's been informed that there's a potentially significant number of cases
where women were diagnosed with cancer but WERE NOT included in the audit
The National Association of General Practitioners has
expressed concern at the outsourcing of smear tests.
However, as controversy surrounding the operation of
Cervical Check continues, the NAGP is urging women to
continue getting tested.
The group has welcomed the Government's decision to
facilitate repeat tests at no extra cost.
It follows the announcement last night by the HSE that Dr
Gráinne Flannelly has stepped down from her position as the
Clinical Director of CervicalCheck following the current
controversy over smear test results.
She informed the HSE of her decision this evening saying she
is sorry that recent events have caused distress and worry to
women, and was stepping aside to allow the CervicalCheck
programme to continue its important work.
The HSE confirmed the news last night, thanking Professor
Flannelly for helping to introduce a programme that has saved
the lives of countless women through screening and early
intervention.
Today, Chairman of the NAGP, Dr Andrew Jordan, does not
believe testing should be outsourced.
Dr Jordan said: "Why aren't these tests being done here? I
mean we have cytologists here in Ireland, they're accredited
and they work in this environment and it would be much easier
to pick up the phone if there was a concern.
The Minister for Health said today she fully supports the HSE's decision to send smear
tests abroad for analysis.
It recently emerged that thousands of tests are being sent to the United States, due to a
shortage of resources in labs here.
Reports claim this is because of the HSE's ban on recruitment, which was introduced in
September as a cost-cutting measure.
Most of the out-sourced tests are from women in the south-east of the country.
Minister Mary Harney insisted it was the right decision: My concern is to make sure that
patients get the results quickly, and that's my first priority.
Quite honestly, I don't think a patient cares whether results come from an Irish laboratory
or an overseas one.
The challenge for our health service is to be able to offer best practice where-ever, and
certainly the HSE made the decision - and I fully support the decision they made -
because it wasn't acceptable to have to wait long periods from the time a smear was taken
to the time you got the results.
The HSE have released a statement reiterating its deepest apologies to women for any
worry caused by the CervicalCheck debacle.
They have revealed that around 3,000 women in Ireland have been diagnosed with
cervical cancer in the past 10 years, and CervicalCheck carried out an audit of 1,482
previous cervical screening tests on those women.
Meanwhile, the Health Minister Simon Harris could bow to mounting pressure and
replace the Government's planned cervical cancer HIQA-led inquiry with a full-scale
commission of investigation after revealing the number of women affected could be
"double" what was previously believed, writes Fiachra Ó Cionnaith.
Mr Harris contradicted Taoiseach Leo Varadkar by saying he is open to scrapping the
initial HIQA plans after saying a "potentially considerable number" of cervical cancer
cases over the past decade have failed to be included in the initial HSE review.
While admitting "quite frankly I don't know" how many more women are involved, Mr
Harris said he agreed with Fianna Fáil health spokesperson Stephen Donnelly's
suggestion the latest revelation could "double" the current 208 women affected by the
scandal.
They said that the audit is used to test and assure the standard of work that is being done
and it was undertaken after the women were diagnosed.
They said: "That is to say that the Cervical Screening Programme did not withhold
information from any woman that delayed their diagnosis of cancer. Rather the audit
process of their previous smears was undertaken as a response to them having been
diagnosed and of this being notified to CervicalCheck.
"When CervicalCheck is notified that a woman has been diagnosed with cervical cancer,
the women’s previous screening history can be reviewed. CervicalCheck carried out an
audit of 1,482 previous cervical screening tests on women who were diagnosed with
cervical cancer from 2008 to 2018. Clinical audit is used to test and assure the standard of
work that is being done by a health service or facility.
Of 1,482 women who were notified to CervicalCheck as being diagnosed with cervical
cancer, it was found that in the cases of 208 women, on look-back, the screening test
could have provided a different result or a warning of increased risk or evidence of
developing cancer.
They said more than three million cervical screening tests have been performed in Ireland
since 2008, and more than 50,000 cases of pre-cancer and cancer have been detected and
treated following cervical screening.
Further information and updates for the public will be provided over the coming days
on cervicalcheck.ie.
Update - 8.53pm: A patient advocacy group says women affected by the CervicalCheck
debacle just want the truth.
CEO of Patient Focus, Brigid Doherty, says women she has spoken to could have avoided
serious medical intervention if their irregular smears had been caught earlier.
She said: "Both of those were in their late 30s, early 40s, and they had hysterectomies so
the choice is taken away from them.
That's huge, if you haven't completed your family.
"So, yes, disappointment, anger, but the big issue for the majority is the lack of
communication, the open, honest communication.
"Of course this is what has affected the trust in the service, are we going to be told the
truth?"
Update 7.43pm: A "potentially considerable number" of cervical cancer screening tests
undertaken by Cervical Check have not been audited - meaning the scale of the cervical
cancer crisis could be far higher than first believed, writes Fiachra Ó Cionnaith.
Health Minister Simon Harris told the Dáil tonight that the numbers revealed so far this
week may not be the full picture.
The fresh revelations mean there could be many more women who should have had their
initial smear tests acted on.
Earlier today, the Irish Cancer Society met with the Minister to seek reassurances on
behalf of the women affected by the CervicalCheck scandal and all the women who are
now worried about their smear results.
At that meeting, Minister Harris agreed to the society’s request that a letter be sent to all
women of screening age addressing any concerns they may have about CervicalCheck
and highlighting the value of the service.
Averil Power, Chief Executive at the Irish Cancer Society, said: "Vicky Phelan has
repeatedly stressed she doesn’t want her experience to put women off going for smear
tests. It is essential this message gets through to the women of Ireland and they are not
deterred from availing of a test that could save their lives.
"Understandably, many women are confused and worried at present. It is essential the
Government reassures them by writing to them, answering their questions and
highlighting the value of the service."
Ms Power welcomed the Minister’s commitment to the move, and stressed that
"everything possible must be done to help all the women affected by testing errors, and
their families, on a one-one basis".
She said: "The Independent Clinical Review process must be set up as soon as possible
and carried out in a supportive, patient-centred way.
"We want to make sure these women get the right support, clinical, psychological or
otherwise."
Speaking at the start of the Dáil debate, Mr Harris said he was told in recent days that all
cervical cancer cases notified to the National Cancer Registry since 2014 had been
audited to ensure all correct measures were taken.
However, in a shock move, the Health Minister said he has now learned "this is not the
case".
He said: "I have to inform the House of some emerging information that I have received
late this afternoon from the serious incident management team.
"While I had previously been advised and it had been commonly understood that the
Cervical Check clinical audit covered all cases notified by the National Cancer Registry, I
have been informed this afternoon that this is not the case.
While Cervical Check has audited all cases notified to it, I have been informed that a
potentially considerable number of cases will not have been subjected to an audit of their
screening history.
"These are not new cases of cancer. Nor is it a group of women wondering if they have
cancer. These are women who have already been diagnosed with cervical cancer and
treated as such but their cases have not been included in a clinical audit," Mr Harris said.
"Vicky Phelan's case has highlighted a number of weaknesses in how people engage with
health services.
"Given the gravity of the situation, it is vital we introduce a process where everyone
understands what happened and what needs to be done to rectify it.
"In the last two days significant progress has been made in contacting the 162 women
whose audit results showed anomalies."
He revealed that the 1800 45 45 55 helpline had got around 6,000 calls by yesterday
evening.
The HSE has contacted 181 of the 208 women affected by the
cervical smear controversy, it has emerged tonight.
The 208 women were those whose smear test audits revealed
a different result.
The HSE is also continuing to examine another 1,500 cervical
cancer cases that were not audited.
RTE are also reporting tonight that over 7,500 calls have been
received by the CervicalCheck helpline since Saturday.
The HSE said the priority for call-backs will be women with
specific clinical queries, or a history of cervical cancer.
Update 5pm: Man says his sister was one of 17 women
who died after CervicalCheck false negative
A man who spoke on national radio today has said he
believes his sister is one of the 17 women who died following
false negatives in the CervicalCheck controversy.
John told Joe Duffy on RTE's about his sister, who died in
June 2016. John said he believes she is in the cohort of 17
women who died, but he doesn't know for sure. He added that
before she died of cervical cancer she was told she had had
tests which missed the diagnosis.
The first test caught the abnormal changes but his sister never
received the results. She had false negatives in the 10 years
before her diagnosis, and died 11 months after her diagnosis.
John believes she is one of the 17 women who died and he
thinks she is one of two women who died knowing that their
cancer had been missed through screening.
His sister was diagnosed with PTSD before she died. She
initiated legal action before she died and her husband is
currently pursuing the case.
John's father was on the same cancer ward as his sister. On
the day she went unresponsive, his father went into ICU and
the family were unable tell him how ill she had become. He
was gravely ill but he came through and was admitted back
out on to the cancer ward, where John had to tell him his
sister was dead.
John said his father went into shock and was diagnosed with
"complicated grief", which is when grief has a physical effect.
"He started to curl up," John said, and died one month after
John's sister.
Update 4.05pm: A cancer charity has accused health chiefs
of "significant mixed messaging" on the cervical cancer
screening scandal as the Chief Medical Officer confirmed the
tests are 99% reliable.
Donal Buggy, of the Irish Cancer Society, said women in
Ireland feel "confusion, concern, frustration and fear" after it
emerged that women with the disease were not told about
wrongly interpreted smear results.
He was speaking at a press conference in Dublin convened by
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan aimed at giving a clear
message to women concerned about their tests and potential
cancer risk.
Professor Donal Buggy, from the Health Service Executive (HSE) clinical
expert panel. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Tony O'Brien
Vicky Phelan
@PhelanVicky
Deirdre Burke
@deirdremburke
Vicky Phelan
@PhelanVicky
Deirdre Burke
@deirdremburke
Simon Harris TD
Verified account
@SimonHarrisTD
Follow
More
Foll ow @SimonHarrisTD
while the taoiseach was telling the Dail how angry he felt about
the failures in the national cervical screening service, Stephen
Teap’s phone rang during a business meeting in his office. He
recognised the number instantly. The first few digits were
identical to his wife’s when she worked as a clerical officer with
the Health Service Executive.
1
Health Minister Simon Harris and HSE director general Tony
O’Brien.
Eilish O'Regan and Laura Larkin
May 8 2018
Dr Gabriel Scally, the Belfast-born, former NHS doctor
who is to carry out a scoping inquiry into CervicalCheck
arrived in Ireland today and has started work.
The inquiry will examine key elements of the scandal
including why so many of the 209 women who developed
cancer after getting an incorrect smear test result were not
informed an internal review was carried out on their case.
It will also examine the quality of testing, the out-sourcing
of analysing smear tests to a laboratory in the United
States as well as the role of the HSE and Department of
Children.
Vicky Phelan, the Limerick mother of two who has
terminal cervical cancer, and whose case lifted the lid on
the scandal, is to have a key role in steering the terms of
reference of the scoping inquiry.
Here is everything you need to know:
Who is the doctor leading the scoping inquiry into
the cervical cancer screening scandal?
A scoping inquiry into the smear test scandal gets
underway today. It is due to look at a number of issues
including tendering process and the withholding of audit
results from affected women. Other screening
programmes will also be examined as part of the process.
Dr Gabriel Scally - a Belfast trained specialist in public
health - will lead the preliminary investigation into the
cervical smear test scandal.
What is Dr Scally's experience?
Gabriel Scally trained first in general practice and then in
public health. He has held senior roles at both the UK's
Department of Health and the NHS. He also holds a
number of academic roles including as Professor of Public
Health and Planning in the University of the West of
England.
This is a major scandal concerning a national
screening programme, does he have any
experience of something like this?
Dr Scally has “widespread experience” in conducting
reviews of this type, Health Minister Simon Harris said
today.
These investigations include a review into clinical failures
in pathology in a Swindon hospital and an NHS review of
the commission of care and treatment for patients at the
Winterbourne View private hospital in the UK, which
found patients suffered abuse.
What will happen next?
Dr Scally is to meet with Minister Harris today and he will
also reach out to Vicky Phelan, the woman whose case
shone a light on the issues with the screening programme.
Other women affected by the scandal are also invited to
participate in the scoping inquiry.
When will we find out the results of the
investigation?
Dr Scally will report back to the Minister for Health by the
end of next month setting out his findings but he has also
been instructed to report any significant information
immediately, which will be released to the public.
A progress report is due to be published by Dr Scally in the
first week of June.
It is expected that a full inquiry will follow later this year.
Have other experts been drafted in?
The director of the SCA Ciarán Breen confirmed the number as he appeared at
the Oireachtas Finance Committee.
The storm over cervical cancer screening began when terminally ill mum-of-
two Ms Phelan was awarded €2.5m in a High Court settlement against a US
lab after she was not informed about an incorrect smear test in 2011.
Mr Breen told the Committee that the SCA is managing nine other similar
cases and are aware of one additional case where a formal claim has not yet
been made.
He said that an indemnity has been received from the independent
laboratories in three of the nine cases to date, and the SCA has sought
“significant indemnities” in the other cases.
Mr Breen said his organisation carries out its statutory role in the cases but
place a “high priority” on treating people who have made claims and their
families “with the dignity and compassion they deserve”.
He added that the SCA has no intention of mounting a full defence in any case
of this nature where responsibility is substantially or completely that of the
State.
Fine Gael Senator Kieran O’Donnell asked Mr Breen if any of the women
whose cases are similar to Ms Phelan’s are deceased.
2
Simon Harris and Leo Varadkar
Dr Gabriel Scally will lead the initial inquiry into the CervicalCheck
controversy
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (left) and Minister for Health Simon Harris
Cormac McQuinn, Ralph Riegel and Laura Lynott
May 5 2018
TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar and Health Minister Simon Harris have been
warned they are "not simply observers" in the cervical cancer screening
scandal as they appeared to seek to shift the focus of the crisis to the HSE.
Mr Varadkar said it had been a "dreadful" week for the health service, while
Mr Harris said it had been "horrific".
Both acknowledged the serious impact the CervicalCheck controversy has had
on the women involved.
Labour Party health spokesman Alan Kelly last night blamed the HSE and
Department of Health for what he called "the worst week in the history of the
Irish healthcare system".
Mr Kelly said there is a "crisis in confidence" in the health system and claimed
Mr Varadkar and Mr Harris have to take their share of the responsibility.
Fianna Fáil's health spokesperson Stephen Donnelly last night called on HSE
chief Tony O'Brien to resign "without prejudice with immediate effect".
"We believe Mr O'Brien remaining in situ will distract from these priorities,"
he said.
The storm over cervical screening began when terminally ill mother-of-two
Vicky Phelan was awarded €2.5m in a High Court settlement against a US lab
after she was not informed about an incorrect smear test in 2011.
Ms Phelan yesterday suggested on RTÉ Radio that Mr Varadkar has been "a
bit quiet" on the issue and that she wants "action" from the Government.
Mr Varadkar said he spoke to Ms Phelan and praised her as "the person who
really shook the whole system up and woke us up to this".
He said he agrees with her that any inquiry should be "speedy" and
"transparent".
The Taoiseach confirmed Ms Phelan will take part in the scoping exercise that
will determine the nature of the inquiry.
Mr Varadkar said statutory inquiries can take many months and cautioned
that if they're held in a public, tribunal-type format they can "take even
longer".
The Irish Independent has learned the Government may recruit two female
experts to conduct the scoping exercise.
There is also going to be a dedicated online portal where women who have
been affected can contact the inquiry to share their experiences.
The screening scandal is set to dominate the political stage again next week as
Sinn Féin is to table a motion of no confidence in HSE director general Tony
O'Brien.
He added: "We don't want to leave a gap or lacuna at the top of the HSE so we
need him to focus on his job".
"This week has been a dreadful week for our health service, even more so for
the women who are affected," he said.
He added that the Government will "do everything necessary... so that Irish
women and families can have confidence in the investigations, screening and
treatments we offer them both now and in future
Where the christ have they been ? did they really believe things had changed since
Bridget Mcole's expesince when she was hounded on her death bed by the state over 20
years ago ? .....and does mad as hell'' harris take us all for fools
Judge criticises HSE
use of unqualified
consultants
Updated / Tuesday, 8 May 2018
By Orla O'Donnell
Legal Affairs Correspondent
The President of the High Court has warned the
Medical Council may be able to take legal action to
end the Health Service Executive's practice of
allowing non-specialist doctors to be appointed as
consultants in hospitals and mental health services.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly described this practice as
scandalous. And he said the HSE appeared to be a
law unto itself in this regard.
The judge said it could not be right that a difficulty in
recruiting doctors at consultant level was addressed,
even temporarily, by appointing people inadequately
qualified for such posts.
He said it was scandalous that this approach had
been adopted by the HSE, in breach of its own
requirements laid down ten years ago.
The judge said the Medical Council, the Health
Information Quality Authority and the Irish Hospital
Consultants' Association had all expressed serious
concerns about this.
But he said the Medical Council believed legislation
was necessary to address a failure to define
'consultant' in the relevant legislation.
The judge said it may be open to the Council to bring
legal proceedings, aimed at ending what he
described as this dangerous practice.
But he hoped such proceedings would not be
necessary and the authorities would act to bring a
speedy end to this "lamentable situation".
The High Court president was giving his ruling, in the
case of a locum consultant radiologist at Cavan
General Hospital.
Last month, the judge confirmed the Medical
Council's recommendation to cancel the registration
of Arian Kumar Bhatia, who had addresses at
Drumcliffe in Sligo and Northamptonshire in England.
Dr Bhatia worked at Cavan General Hospital
between June and September 2014 after being
recruited by an agency.
The hospital raised concerns and the Council's
Fitness to Practice Committee found around 80
allegations involving 43 patients amounted to poor
professional performance.
Three women out of 10 who had taken cases against the State
in circumstances similar to Vicky Phelan have died, it emerged
yesterday.
Urgent! Urgent!
Can Leo/T make a statement and reassure Irish citizens that these unlawfull actions of the State will stop
immediately?
Why has the Minister for Justice not taken action sooner to stop this illegal practice ?
My email I just sent to Tony O’Brien, Director General HSE - we need to all speak out and not let this
issue be swept under the carpet. people’s life’s are at risk. Please feel free to share.
Dear Mr O’Brien
My last two CervicalCheck screens have come back clear. I am now in doubt as to the accuracy of
these results due to the recent audits on women who already had cancer. 14% of those audited since
2008 had bad tests. What about the smear tests that have NOT been audited, i.e., all of us women who
potentially now have pre-caner cells but got the all clear. Surely all tests should be audited at this stage,
not just those who already have cancer.
I am now formally asking you and/or the HSE and/or CervicalCheck to have my last two smear tests
audited to check the accuracy of the results. I would image this would be a more cost-effective way to
deal with the situation and would prevent thousands of women go through the trauma of having their
smear tests done again. I would appreciate a prompt reply and please note that I will be posting this
letter and any reply on social media sites.
At the time we certainly were of the view that all of the other
women had been informed and then we heard it in the media.
The majority, 162, were not initially told of the outcome of the
audit. Of the 208, 17 have since died.
Vicky Phelan
All of the pending legal cases are against US labs, with no Irish
labs involved, the State Claims Agency has confirmed.
Director Ciaran Breen revealed the agency only found out
through the media about more than 200 women who could
have had audit results kept from them and did not know the
smear test scandal was far wider than Ms Phelan’s case before
her situation was made public.
Leo Varadkar
Indeed the Tánaiste met with and spoke to Mr Teap over the
weekend to hear about his concerns, to talk to him and to hear
what he has to say,” he said.
Tony O'Brien
Simon Harris TD
✔
@SimonHarrisTD
The HSE boss says if he had been made aware of the problems
with CervicalCheck or Vicky Phelan's case he could have made
the fallout easier for everyone.
I brought everyone back into the room and I had a repeat set of
discussions, encouraging that this would be a place where
everyone could tell me whatever they needed to tell me,
whether they thought I'd like it or not.
While the Health Minister has said the crisis has shaken his
confidence in the health service.
Minister Simon Harris has said Mr O'Brien should see out his
time, despite calls from a number of ministers for him to go.
But the Minister also said he had concerns about the system
Mr O'Brien has presided over.
Those who should have given him information did not realise
the significance of the screening problems, director general
Tony O'Brien said.
He said those who should have given him information did not
see the significance of it, but supported the introduction of a
statutory duty of candour to bring a "sharper edge" to how
people acted.
PA
Three ministers, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin have all shared their
belief that Mr O'Brien should step down after the
CervicalCheck scandal.
Digital Desk
"Do your job, Minister, and tell Mr O'Brien that it's time for him
to go."
The call comes after the President of the High Court Peter
Kelly described this practice as “scandalous” and pointed
out that the lives, health and welfare of patients were
being at risk.
Today Fianna Fail health spokesman Stephen Donnelly
said it is “shocking” that the Government has not taken
action to stop this practice.
All a big game and the laugh is on the taxpayer.
Pretending to the sheeple that they despise
eachother, while carrying out the very same policies
handed down to them by their Globalist Leaders
and the EU Tyrants. All bought and owned.
Dara Calleary.
The Dáil has heard an interview with a young mother who
now has terminal cancer has "seared the soul of the
country."
37-year-old mother of five Emma Mhic Mhathuna spoke of her
heartbreak at her cervical cancer diagnosis in 2016, having
been given the all clear three years earlier.
She told RTÉ: "I’m dying when I don’t need to die. And my
children are going to be without me, and I’m going to be
without them."
Emma also criticised the Government, arguing: "They’re all
hiding there in the Dáil and they don’t see what I see."
The issue was raised in the Dáil during leader's questions by
Fianna Fáil Deputy Leader Dara Calleary.
He observed: "It's an interview that would stay with anyone
who heard it - it seared the soul of our country.
"It's hard not to be completely distraught at the devastating
heartbreak that Emma and her family are facing, and there are
no words that anybody can say that will console her, her five
children, her family or her friends."
He added: "Emma's only one story in an ocean of anguish."
Responding to Deputy Calleary, Finance Minister Paschal
Donohoe said details in the interview were "harrowing to
hear".
He noted: "There are few words that I can offer that can
recognise the scale of tragedy and vast difficulty that Emma
and her family are grappling with at the moment.
"The Taoiseach, the Minister for Health and the entire
Government are absolutely committed to doing two things:
firstly to ensuring that we establish why this happened, who is
accountable, and how this can be prevented in the future.
"The second priority of the Government was to put in place all
the supports that we can to offer supports to women, and to
offer comfort to women at a time of such great vulnerability."
It comes amid continued pressure from opposition parties for
HSE chief Tony O'Brien to step aside over the cervical
screening controversy.
Mr O'Brien - who is leaving his role later this summer - has
refused to resign, and earlier accused a TD of trying to cause
'hysteria' over the Cervical Check scandal.
https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/media/pressrel/cervicalcheck-advice-
sheet-for-women-may-4.pdf
https://www.newstalk.com/Dil-hears-interview-of-woman-with-terminal-
cancer-seared-the-soul-of-our-country
Three explosive memos to HSE boss Tony O'Brien now being discussed by the PAC.. the end of
the memo included the following recommendation #iestaff
While #EmmaNíMhathúna was receiving her death sentence phonecall from @HSELive
#CervicalCheck @campaignforleo was writing love letters to #TonyOBrienCancerOnSociety
#todaySOR
THIS IS A TURNING POINT FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IT SHOULD NOT BE LAID AT
@campaignforleo'S DOOR - THE ENTIRE BODY POLITIC ARE RESPONSIBLE: PUPPETS TO
BANKS, CORPORATIONS, STATE INSIDERS & THE TROIKA FOR THE NATION TO RISE, THE
STATE MUST FALL #corruptKIP
My six-year-old asked would I be able to come back' Emma Ní
Mhathúna on the heartbreaking moment she told her children about
her terminal cervical cancer
Ink writing of leos handwriting in shorthand
Thanks for your work, During a difficult Period;
Hope you will still be reliable to the public service after you retire from
HSE
Leo
https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/media/pressrel/leo-varadkar-hse-
thank-you-letter-2018.pdf
yes he did know, so did mchael martin, mary harness, simon harris, and two doctors and michael
noonan, mary harney and michael martin signed the contract with USA cervical smear cancer lab abnd
agreed in shared data and dan they sold the woman out and there data and their health, without
consent or contract and failed to notify the woman some whom are dead and 20 another 3, 000 woman
wait on death role to be told they are dying too, fucking disgrace,
Always consider "Cui Bono" ....... was he horsed out for the right reasons or did finding the three emails
and their consequences cause him to be sent to the hills and not available for further exploration in
respect of what Vradkar was told and knew..
They're running scared now
There’s more to come Leo an Harris knew all about it and hid it from media they should all be
done for manslaughter weres the left brigade that were out marching when 3 men got found
not guilty of rape why are they not out marching for these women
The boy must go and GO NOW!. He's not up to the job, never was. Why in the name of
God did Fine Gael put this lightweight bullshitter in charge of such a critical portfolio?
Kenny and Varadkar have big questions to answer too. Only a General Election will sort
this out, the sooner, the better
And I bet we will have LEO and Harris saying how sorry they are and how he was
hounded out off his job and will thank him from the Irish people for how good a job
he done
Minister for Health #FG
11 July 2014 – 6 May 2016
this fucker is as bent as they come,
What is needed is accountability but He won't hold Tony O'Brien to account because then he would
have to be held to account. Harris would have to be held to account. O'Reilly would have to be held to
account and Harney would have to be held to account.None of them, give a tinkers damn about any of
the women affected by this. Another tribunal or public inquiry perhaps? Another farce where taxpayers
money will be dished out to money hungry lawyers but no one will be held accountable and as always
there will be no consequences for any of those involved. How do they sleep at night one might wonder,
knowing they are responsible for the deaths of so many women? Very well since sleepless nights
would imply that they have some vestige of a conscience and that is something none of these monsters
possess.
They should be killed like I'm not paying 40% on a Friday and or when I work over time
Saturdays these scum bags want half AND YOUR CAN'T AFFORD A HOME THERE'S
GONNA BE A BIG FUCKING FIGHT REAL SOON A FUCKING BIG ONE
Without ACCOUNTABILITY
we have NOTHING.. EVER
By Catherine Shanahan
Cervical smears are still being sent for screening to a firm in the US six years after the
HSE said the outsourcing would be short term.
Quest Diagnostics Inc in Texas was contracted temporarily to carry out screening to
clear a backlog of 40,000 smears. After clearing the backlog within six months, Quest
got a two-year deal in 2008, followed by a second two-year contract in 2010 and a
four-year deal this year.
In the past four years, 1.3m smear tests have been processed. About 70 women die of
cervical cancer in Ireland each year.
At the time Quest was brought in, Tom Finn, assistant national director at the HSE
national hospitals’ office, said it was seen as “a short-term solution to an unacceptable
problem”.
In response to a Dáil question in Mar 2007, he said: “From this point forward, the
outsourcing of cervical smears will only arise in the event that the national
laboratories providing screening reach a backlog of more than three weeks.”
The tests were later divided between Quest and a second multinational, MedLab
Pathology Ltd, in 2010. MedLab has a laboratory in Dublin.
At the time of the original outsourcing, James Reilly, then opposition health
spokesperson, said a company like Quest could “take over laboratory services in this
country and we [could] end up with hundreds of medical laboratory scientists’ jobs
gone”.
He asked then health minister Mary Harney if she believed outsourcing screening was
“a sensible use of taxpayers’ money in terms of retaining Irish jobs and a particular
skill”.
A spokeswoman for the National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) said six parties
had tendered for the contract earlier this year, but she would not say if any Irish firms
were involved.
She said she understood MedLab was continuing to increase the number of samples
screened at its Dublin-based laboratory. She said the Coombe Hospital would also
process a proportion of the annual smear test volume for CervicalCheck.
The NCSS said prior to the national programme, screening was carried out on an ad
hoc basis and women had delays for two decades. Now test results are available in
four weeks.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/smear-test-screening-still-outsourced-to-us-six-years-on-
209836.html
A Peaceful Protest will be held at 5.30pm on May 14th 2018meet outside GPO on
Monday for the brave woman of Ireland who have been let down BY HSE of Cervical
Smear Cancer Check, we Want justice and some government sacked, Please Bring Pots
and Pans so that we can bang out loud for justice for the woman, We cannot let this go
unpunished the perpetrators must be held to account with no fat bonus or fat retire
pensions Garda must charge them for murder and sue USA and also make them
accountable too, we need plenty of loud noise so bring pots and pans and spoons and
Please say you can attend
NOBODY TOLD ME! - COME ON! The Minister claims he didn't know! A dying woman sues the State
for the life their health policies have cost her, and the Minister didn't know!! I don't believe that and
neither to thousands of angry women.
Why would you wait for next few weeks after referebdum
to this protest this is scandalous PBP are not protesting
until a few weeks this is outrage, Feets on the streets now
on Monday
https://www.facebook.com/BridSmithTD/videos/6151452
02170149/
There is a reason I warned you about Fine Gael and Fianna Fail's plans for the HSE.
Here is their plan from their program for government as agreed back in 2016 in order to
form a confidence and supply coalition government. Note the sections highlighted. This is
their plan for privatisation and HIQA will be used to determine which hospitals need some
privatisation in order to bring them up to standard...
The dismantling of the HSE has begun. Be of no doubt about it. What will replace it is far
far far worse...
Fine Gael's draft document presented for discussion with Fianna Fail, April 6th.
Farming out "poor performing" hospitals to third party providers, funding hospitals based
on performance and the ongoing dismantling of the HSE...
The creation of independent hospitals which will have opted to withdraw from local
authority control and be managed by a trust instead. This means that they are forced to
decide how they raise money independently of the Department of Health. Especially
when health funding is cut due to austere budgets...
http://health.gov.ie/blog/publications/the-establishment-of-hospital-groups-as-a-transition-to-
independent-hospital-trusts/
Here is how the trust system works in the UK. You will note that this trust system forces
hospitals to integrate with private interests when funds are cut....
http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/social-policy/departments/health-services-management-
centre/news/viewpoint/2015/06/privatisation-or-financial-lifeline.aspx
This is privatisation by the back door because hospitals will have to operate as
businesses and this is what Fianna Fail are in negotiations to support...
https://www.facebook.com/events/192752291353524/?notif_t=plan_admin_added¬if_id=1526001
540820211
The Establishment of Hospital Groups as a transition to Independent Hospital Trusts A report to the
Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly, TD
https://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IndHospTrusts.pdf
Bríd Smith TD
5 hours ago ·
Follow
Do you believe there's a cover up going on over #CervicalCheck and Leo Varadkar
and the Government know more than what they are telling us ?
98%
Yes
2%
No
This poll has ended.
A Peaceful Protest will be held at 5.30pm on May 14th 2018meet outside GPO on
Monday for the brave woman of Ireland who have been let down BY HSE of Cervical
Smear Cancer Check, we Want justice and some government sacked, Please Bring Pots
and Pans so that we can bang out loud for justice for the woman, We cannot let this go
unpunished the perpetrators must be held to account with no fat bonus or fat retire
pensions Garda must charge them for murder and sue USA and also make them
accountable too, we need plenty of loud noise so bring pots and pans and spoons and
Please say you can attend
breast cancer on the skin presents suddenly. Watch out for red skin on the breast.
Mammograms don’t help here.
The news comes amid a “stormy” Cabinet meeting yesterday at which ministers called for
HSE director general Tony O’Brien to be sacked, only to be told it would “cost too
much”."
Cost too much? So the deaths of 17 women and the precarious futures of many more is
not enough?
These politicians have a skewed view of what costs too much...
Right now every early years professional working in Ireland who is not a union member is
blocking a pay rise for all in the sector. The time for talking is ceased. We need this over the line
before the election is called. Get the forms completed and returned!
The Ceann Coharile has struck out Sinn Fein's motion of no confidence in Tony O'Brien...
What chance justice ,in Ireland none,, if he didnt know ,he should have, if he did know he
should have done something, no way out for him ,yet the major parties protect him, where
else in the world rewards incompentency
Little mister no substance Leo Varadkar T.D. has joined us today in our campaign
to #FindNoirinsPhone . Leo doesn`t believe the Gardai should be like Dodgy Politicians and
corrupt Billionaires and be above the Law.
So he's gone... No doubt with a nice golden handshake and a hefty taxpayer funded
pension for life...
Tony O'Brien has stepped down as HSE Director General amid the
scandal over a failure to communicate the findings of scans to women
diagnosed with cervical cancer.
O’Brien had been Director General of the health service since July 2013
and had already been due to leave his role at the beginning of July.
A HSE statement reads: “Notwithstanding the clear communication
failures surrounding the CervicalCheck Audits, he is confident that the
Scally Review will demonstrate the quality and value of the
CervicalCheck Programme once it is complete.”
1. People get out on the streets in mass numbers and bring Dublin to a halt and demand that the Govt
go...
‘No follow-up’
Criticism has been levelled at the HSE and CervicalCheck in
recent days over the lack of follow-through in terms of
ensuring doctors inform all affected patients that their
smear test had been included in the audit process.
The memo shows O’Brien was briefed about the
“communications protocol” which had been prepared for
consulting clinicians.
The memo states that “the formal step of communicating
cytology review findings arising from the clinical audit to the
treating clinicians looking after individual women diagnosed
with cervical cancer” had begun.
Letters
The note also informed the HSE boss about the number of
letters that had been issued to GPs to date (86 in total up to
July 2016) and indicated that a further 200 letters would be
issued in the following months (July/August 2016).
The memo also highlighted a number of recommendations
to the HSE boss, such as the aim of introducing HPV testing,
which is yet to be introduced in Ireland (Health Minister
Simon Harris said it will be introduced this year).
Notably, the memo also highlights the need to establish
“formal links for statistical reporting with the National
Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI)”.
Yesterday the Oireachtas Health Committee was informed
that CervicalCheck knew for many years that there were
issues with the transfering of data from the NCRI.
Failure to reconcile CervicalCheck and NCR data meant the
HSE initially told the health minister that 1,482 cases of
cervical cancer had been diagnosed since its screening
programme began in 2008. It later emerged it was closure to
3,000.
Labour’s Alan Kelly, who chaired today’s PAC meeting, said
the memo showed that the communications strategy
outlined in the briefing note was not executed.
He said this showed there was “no follow-up or
accountability” by the HSE to ensure that clinicians had
spoken to the women affected.
It called the memo a ”devastating document” because of the
“tone and manner” in which it is written and highlighted the
sort of communications strategy CervicalCheck was
operating.
http://www.thejournal.ie/hse-memo-tony-obrien-4004722-May2018/
cervicalcheck-memo-to-tony-
obrien
http://cdn.thejournal.ie/medi
a/2018/05/cervicalcheck-
memo-to-tony-obrien.pdf
cervical cancer by 60%–90%
and the death rate by 90%,
according to the European
Society for Medical Oncology
(ESMO).
https://watermark.silverchair.com/mdx220.pdf?token=AQECAHi208BE49Ooan9kk
hW_Ercy7Dm3ZL_9Cf3qfKAc485ysgAAAbIwggGuBgkqhkiG9w0BBwagggGfMIIBm
wIBADCCAZQGCSqGSIb3DQEHATAeBglghkgBZQMEAS4wEQQMDWGmtZ-
12YzmR9LgAgEQgIIBZflqv1AC2qaiEOd3Z6jTYnFg11WGx8M671ouaulefLSlzsT-
KeTS6QWsYorQ4KuMnq5LUlUVfmTyC5BGHc6paE5sxD8TtbLvm8H-
mKGRrnwLbHfz6o_vuiAg5nTmCpnCVDk9VZAXw3AM8H6joqESbu6qQmCkCU0bf
rx_2plJuuJDH8UbY1JB6JGGQ52bkuFshM29sftceohJr14ULL3huPRgKlufQv4K2Auf
gjnj0oCmGhvgsssM8QW5zTkNOhEOOcdgQt2K6fhoe_yQpsBEuVGjpLp1WvpP_EPu
OPGOkMOSDa4lXg-4sJkmA1yT8hDghI-xnoUtkxUhujig6_eKRMx6DqiP6S-
kRy9LdJX-1vJzxZe7GhqE1-DmDLU3pttT65G0EihBdU0mmg-
_xQlkjHVF74UwN588MyxqnPz_jriz1fUo2XSwi-
AIy4yr_c_VerJ91q0Ulcpj6YgJMxqrO-W8VMpeew
Image: Shutterstock/Jarun Ontakrai
THE CERVICAL CHECK CONTROVERSY has rocked the
country this week and has many women worried.
The scandal has many layers to it.
This week we learned that more than 1,500 women who
developed cervical cancer did not have their cases reviewed
by CervicalCheck.
The public was then told by the Minister for Health Simon
Harris that this number was higher, with “a considerable
number” of women diagnosed with cancer not being
subjected to an audit of their screening history.
The Taoiseach said yesterday the government is still not sure
about the final figures.
During the week it was also revealed that 17 women who
were diagnosed with cancer whose cases were reviewed as
part of an audit have died.
All of this was brought into the public eye following a court
case by Vicky Phelan, who is terminally ill and was last week
awarded €2.5 million over incorrect smear test results from
2011.
Following the aftermath of the scandal, Harris announced
this week that a new screening test will be rolled out in the
autumn.
So, what is this new test? Let’s take a look.
What test currently screens for cervical cancer?
Since 2008, some three million smear tests have been
carried out by CervicalCheck. It is important to note that the
current cervical screening test is not a diagnostic test, it is a
screening test.
It is a test to indicate the possibility of precancerous or
cancerous lesions and to identify women who require
further investigation or follow-up. Tests can produce false
positive and false negative results.
Women are screened at three-yearly intervals, but cervical
cancer may develop in the time interval between a negative
screening test and the next scheduled screening in any
cervical screening programme.
“It is a fact that the current primary screening test used by
CervicalCheck is a cytology test which produces a not
insignificant number of false negative results,” said the
minister this week.
A false negative is test result which wrongly indicated that
abnormal cervical cells were not present in a smear test.
What is this new test the minister plans to roll out?
Following the recommendation from the National Screening
Service, the minister approved a switch to HPV testing.
The HPV screening will be introduced later this year, most
likely in autumn, though it could be moved forward.
HSE boss Tony O’Brien said the new test will be an
“additional enhancement” in cervical cancer prevention, and
will make the current smear test system “redundant”.
The accuracy of HPV testing is significantly higher than the
current liquid based cytology testing, and is expected to
result in fewer women receiving a false negative result.
The minister said the testing for the HPV virus will be a
more appropriate strategy for the cohort of women who
have received vaccination against HPV. (The HPV vaccine
prevents 7 out of 10 cervical cancers and is given to girls in
Ireland age of 12 to 13 years).
What’s the difference between a smear test and the
HPV test?
The smear test detects abnormal cells that may develop into
cancer if left untreated.
HPV testing is used to look for the presence of HPV in
cervical cells. These tests can detect HPV infections that
cause cell abnormalities, sometimes even before cell
abnormalities are evident.
Like the smear test, the HPV test is done on a sample of cells
collected from the cervix.
What is HPV and how to you get it?
HPV stands for human papillomavirus. HPVs are a group of
more than 150 related viruses.
Mucosal HPV is spread mainly by direct skin-to-skin contact
during vaginal, oral, or anal sexual activity. It’s not spread
through blood or body fluids, according to the American
Cancer Society.
Why the change to this HPV test?
The minister said his decision to approve HPV screening
was informed by a HIQA Health Technology Assessment.
That assessment found that HPV screening would benefit
women by making the screening process more clinically
effective as well as reducing unnecessary tests for most
women.
Is it a better test?
For many years, the Papanicolaou (Pap or smear test) has
been the standard method for cervical cancer screening.
It has reduced the incidence of cervical cancer by 60%–90%
and the death rate by 90%, according to the European
Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO).
However, the society acknowledged there are limitations of
this cytology-based test.
As HPV is present in almost all cervical cancers, the HPV
screening tool has begun to be introduced in other countries.
ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment
and follow-up 2017 state that a pooled analysis of four
randomised controlled trials of HPV-based cervical
screening versus conventional cytology showed that HPV-
based cervical screening provides 60%–70% greater
protection as opposed to the smear test.
Why not just continue with smear tests?
The HPV test is understood to be better because in
vaccinated populations the detection of dysplastic lesions
(which are used to detect abnormal cells in the smear test)
will be less frequent, meaning screening with smear tests
will be more difficult.
Expert bodies are now of the view that prevention is better
than cure. Prevention of cervical cancer is now possible
through immunisation with HPV vaccines.
What other countries are going down this route?
The UK, New Zealand, Sweden, Australia and the
Netherlands have all recommended the implementation of
HPV screening. The Taoiseach said Ireland will be one of the
first countries in the world to roll out the test.
The Head of Research at the Irish Cancer Society Dr Robert
O’Connor said it should be noted that HPV testing should
“by no means would replace HPV vaccination”.
Screening can detect cancerous and pre-cancerous cells, but
treatment to remove these cells can be harsh and extremely
invasive. What’s more, detection through screening is no
guarantee of survival. Vaccination, on the other hand, can
stop these cancerous cells from developing in the first place.
It is guaranteed to save lives, and the more people who are
vaccinated, the more effective it will be for the population at
large.
Another memo – dated March 2016 – also sent to O’Brien outlines the
legal concerns, and also raises the case of one patient diagnosed with
cervical cancer who wished to have a meeting with CervicalCheck.
Under the heading ‘Next Steps’ the memo states that letters to patients
should be paused. — feeling angry.
It’s a disgrace what’s going on!! They have no respect for the women of
Ireland
Will Simon Harris, Tony O Brien and all senior management who were involved in
CERVICAL CHECKS IN HSE , Will they be charge with manslaughter? ???
It's appalling what FG.FF.LABOUR AND GREENS have done to the people of Ireland.
The last time we built a hospital was in 1998 Tallaght Hospital. Since then the population
has increased by over 1 million. We have 750,000 Waiting for medical treatment and FG
AND FF Government say they have no money. Yet they gave themselves an increase of
14000 euro in pension and 10000 euro salary increase.
Why are people voting for FG.FF LABOUR AND THE GREENS? ?
i am not going to trust them anymore i will boycott them and then i will blame them for
breaching my data and dan smear test off into another unknown foreign country using my
details and data and dan for their training purpose without my permission or signed contract
or consent, i will sue the fuckers because they have now deprived me of having my smear
test because of the mistrust and illegally using my data and smear test without my consent, i
had no contract with USA or any other foreign country and i was not aware or told that my
smear dan test was going to a private lab in USA, so they will be blamed and i will hold them
to account for this, this is abuse of power and trust by HSE and Government Harney who
signed a Contract without Any Irish Woman Knowledge or Consent or Signed Contract this is
Completely Illegal and Unconstitutional i won't let this Matter go,
Vaccines designed to prevent infection with HPV are effective in protecting against pre-
cancerous cervical lesions in women, according to a large international evidence review
12
See No. 28/29, 2007, pp. 245–260.
13
See No. 5, 2009, pp. 37–40.
14
See No. 32, 2009, pp. 325–332.
15
See No. 29, 2013, pp. 301–312.
16
See No. 7, 2014, pp. 53–60.
17
See No. 3, 2016, pp. 21–32.
18
Grimaldi-Bensouda L, Rossignol M, Koné-Paut I et al. Risk of autoimmune diseases and human
papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines: Six years of case-referent surveillance. Journal of Autoimmunity.
2017;79:84–90.
19
Arnheim-Dahlström L, Pasternak B, Svanström H et al. Autoimmune, neurological, and venous
thromboembolic adverse events after immunisation of adolescent girls with quadrivalent human
papillomavirus vaccine in Denmark and Sweden: cohort study. Bmj. 2013;347:f5906.
20
Agence nationale de sécurité du médicament et des produits de santé. Vaccins anti- HPV et risque
de maladies auto-immunes: étude pharmaco-épidémiologique, 2015. Available only in French
language at http://ansm.sante.fr/S-informer/Points-d-information-Points-d-
information/Vaccination-contre-les-infections-a-HPV-et-risque-de-maladies-auto-immunes-une-
etude-Cnamts-ANSM-rassurante-Point-d-information, accessed June 2017.
21
Andrews N, Stowe J, Miller E. No increased risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome after human
papilloma virus vaccine: A self-controlled case-series study in England. Vaccine.
2017;35(13):1729–1732.
22
Bonde U, Joergensen JS, Lamont RF, et al. Is HPV vaccination in pregnancy safe? Human
vaccines & immunotherapeutics. 2016;12(8):1960–1964.
23
Scheller NM, Pasternak B, Mølgaard-Nielsen D et al. Quadrivalent HPV vaccination and the risk
of adverse pregnancy outcomes. New England Journal of Medicine. 2017;376(13):1223–1233.
24
See http://www.who.int/vaccine_safety/committee/reports/Dec_2015/en/
25
Gee J, Weinbaum C, Sukumaran L et al. Quadrivalent HPV vaccine safety review and safety
monitoring plans for nine-valent HPV vaccine in the United States. Human vaccines &
immunotherapeutics. 2016;12(6):1406–1417.
26
See
http://www.who.int/vaccine_safety/committee/topics/hpv/GACVS_Statement_HPV_12_Mar_2014
.pdf
27
See http://www.who.int/vaccine_safety/initiative/tools/vaccinfosheets/en/
28
Iwata S et al. Consensus statement from 17 relevant Japanese academic societies on the
promotion of the human papillomavirus vaccine. Vaccine. 2017;35:2291–2292.
Full report of GACVS meeting of 7-8 June 2017, published in the WHO Weekly
Epidemiological Record of 14 July 2017
Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety Statement on the continued safety of HPV
vaccination
http://www.who.int/vaccine_safety/committee/topics/hpv/
GACVS_Statement_HPV_12_Mar_2014.pdf
President Michael D Higgins is set to intervene in the cervical
cancer tests scandal, saying he will meet with Emma Mhic
Mhathúna after her heart-breaking news she has terminal
cancer,
Speaking in Florence, Italy, today Mr Higgins said he is deeply
saddened by what has happened and wants to offer whatever
support he can to those who are affected.
"It's just a tragic, tragic, awful reality that she's facing and of
course there are others too who are carrying the burden of an
auditing system that has failed out citizens," the president
said.
She also said some of the most senior politicians in the country
were like Teletubbies.
Emma explained to Helen Ní Shé how she had to sit down with
her children to tell them she was dying yesterday. Emma is
raising her children on her own as a single mum.
She said: “I sat down and told them I was dying ... Oisín, he’s
six years of age, he asked if I’d be coming back, don’t go
anywhere Mammy, do you not love me? He doesn’t
understand.”
It’s hard to find a good family for one child, but for five ...
"I have five children, Vicky Phelan has two ... how many
children will be without mothers after this scandal?”
“It has really upset me, because they’re all standing back and
they know somebody has to take responsibility for killing the
women of Ireland... I’m very angry about it.”
“If I had got the right results at that time, I wouldn’t be where I
am now … I had a kidney infection in January, I have a lung
infection now. My life … well I’m not too worried about my life,
but the kids are very very young.”
She told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland today that it was her job to
protect her children from bad news.
The memo was prepared for HSE management in July 2016 but
released to the Public Accounts Committee today.
He said he did not know how much detail the Department was
given, but that he would provide this to the PAC in the coming
days.
The issue will re-emerge in the Oireachtas next week with Sinn
Féin's motion of no confidence in Tony O'Brien.
She was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2016 and was told it had spread to her
bones
Her gynaecologist told her that she was not going to die.
Treatment actually did not start until March, and John said:
"She just gradually got worse... she was in constant pain, never
stopped bleeding."
They had been told that her chances of living were 70:30 for
living with Stage 2B cancer.
John told Sean about how she worried about not being
remembered.
Even though he doesn't remember her, their son who was only
two tells John that he misses his mum.
John gets two cards a year - one for father's day, the other for
mothers day. He is now nine years of age.
https://cf-
media.sndcdn.com/V4hwHPmEoZL4.128.mp3?Policy=eyJTdGF0ZW1lbnQiO
lt7IlJlc291cmNlIjoiKjovL2NmLW1lZGlhLnNuZGNkbi5jb20vVjRod0hQbUVv
Wkw0LjEyOC5tcDMiLCJDb25kaXRpb24iOnsiRGF0ZUxlc3NUaGFuIjp7IkFX
UzpFcG9jaFRpbWUiOjE1MjU5NzYxMjZ9fX1dfQ__&Signature=mBkKTBu~
OBttkENI6DShNl4AFkhsmxzNEeFc9~WPWFZFf~tkgU5jY8EiaDCah~fVLDfy
EcT1RvXygfCRpLkbk~JT8fm7cACEj60FfN6NJqK6Zp~ZyP9ncmU83t9umCu
uDNm9XLX864sC81UVqHOnYl2lmI47x0JG1JRhSlRwa99QRPqFLxugjaKSH
I9plt4hAhw20XUJ5kynKbZj-
iT3kzYfj17a408TIykWtE5DYcDQaeiuAXGRQ5UmNHWk-
ZpV0YliOsuDI6bZemRYpsfHOuFC7rb6VgbCIuIpfbjCv-
2xrglCnZEPWm92hvfRpt1mgFb~wtlraVMnpdMXHY84oQ__&Key-Pair-
Id=APKAJAGZ7VMH2PFPW6UQ
The embattled outgoing chief of the health service said he
doubts anyone else will want his €186,000-a-year job.
Medical Research Institute and the University of Queensland proves the HPV vaccine
nearly halves high-grade cervical abnormalities which are at high risk of progressing
to cervical cancer.
5 March, 2014
http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/local/newcastle/201403/r124519
6_16544287.mp3
Gardasil Victim Speaks Out After 2 Years
Jun 3, 2009
SUBSCRIBE 234
Brittney gives an emotionally charged overview of what her life has been like for
the past two years. She struggles daily with the fact her life has been forever
changed. A doctor frightened her into taking the Gardasil vaccine by telling her
she could get an HPV through a "possible" lab accident at college - where her
blood could mingle with someone elses who had an HPV. She was never told
HPV's are sexually transmitted deseases. and having no other information, she
allowed herself to be given a vaccine she never needed. Now she wishes the
TRUTH to be told - more testing of this vaccine is warranted before another
young woman is injured.. See update for year 6 here:
http://www.examiner.com/article/garda...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gCVCP8BFrU
If they REALLY cared about the deaths of the 17 women then they would pull the plug
and force Leo to go to the Áras to dissolve this Government...
But that's not going to happen so they will continue to play the "We are the opposition but
not really since we fully support Fine Gael in everything they do" game...
Would it be right to say that instead of sacking Tony o brien' he should be brought in front of a
court of Auditors to give the people a total breakdown on how he managed the H.S.E. Over
his years in Control
NOBODY TOLD ME! - COME ON! The Minister claims he didn't know! A dying woman sues the State
for the life their health policies have cost her, and the Minister didn't know!! I don't believe that and
neither to thousands of angry women.
https://www.facebook.com/BridSmithTD/videos/6151
45202170149/UzpfSTEwMDAwMDMxOTkwODU2M
zoxNzk2MTQ3MjEwNDA1OTI1/
( 1 ) Eamon Gilmore,s wife / partner recieved 525,000 euro's for land from the office of public works on
behalf of the department of education in 2007 for the purpose of building a school. The school was never started
and the site is now worth 50,000 euro's.
( 2 ) Beverly Cooper Flynn,s former partner and father to her children is now back in Buisness after writing off
42,000,000 euro's debt to bankruptcy by living for a year in England, these debts are now in NAMA. and the Irish
tax payer are picking up the tab for them.
( 3 ) Denis O Brien had 300,000,000 euro's written off over 4 years in the Irish banks that the Irish tax payer bailed
out, YES THAT IS CORRECT! it worked out at 1,500,000 euro's per week every week for 4 yeaars.
( 4 )with the discovery of a huge oil and gas field in the slime Basen near the Corrib Gas field both off the Co.
Mayo coast Ireland has moved up to one of the world's top oil / gas producing country's yet no benifits for the Irish
tax payer, so it is my belief that every politician in Ireland got or are still getting brown envelops packed with
substantial wades of cash.
( 5 ) Liz Howlan,s brother never face any charges after his employee was killed in a workplace accident because
Liz is the second in command in the Director of Public Prosecutions Office and she blocked it from going to court,
both Liz and her brother are closely related to former Government minister Brendan Howlan.
( 6 ) Sean McNiff deceased was closely involved in cover up of the murder of a 6 year old child in Co. Donegal on
behalf of a peadophile ring operating in their local area. McNiff was a long standing Fiana Fail County Councillor
and was protected by the FF. party from the time of the murder 41 years ago to this present day, he was a close
associate of every FF. leader since the murder and also of several Judges including property tycoon Judge Kevin
kilraine.
If you want to fight corruption in Ireland please share this post and like this page and ask your friends to like it
allso, thanking you in anticipation.
Influenza Vaccine:
Why Mandates Are Ineffective & Unwise Public Policy
http://mercola.fileburst.com/PDF/NVIC-Influenza.pdf
http://www.thejournal.ie/tony-obrien-gone-hse-director-
general-4005228-May2018/
There were emotional scenes in the Dáil today as Emma Mhic Mhathúna's interview was raised during
Leaders' Questions.
Dara Calleary’s voice wavered as he read out Emma's own words to the House:
"I am dying and I don’t need to die… I don’t even know if my baby will remember me. I don’t even know if my
baby will remember me."
"Minister, the time for defiant defence is over," Calleary told Minister Paschal Donohoe.
https://www.facebook.com/thejournal.ie/videos/188141546854
5535/UzpfSTEwMDAwNTQ3MjYwNDQ4Nzo4MTkyMDIyODE
2MDU1MTg/
There were emotional scenes in the Dáil today as Emma Mhic Mhathúna's interview was raised during
Leaders' Questions.
Dara Calleary’s voice wavered as he read out Emma's own words to the House:
"I am dying and I don’t need to die… I don’t even know if my baby will remember me. I don’t even know
if my baby will remember me."
"Minister, the time for defiant defence is over," Calleary told Minister Paschal Donohoe.
https://www.facebook.com/thejournal.ie/videos/1881415468545535/
Here we have a FF TD using the deaths of women to further his
own career. How about getting your party to give FG a choice. Get
o brien out or we'll bring down the government. But nope like
Fitzgerald and o Sullivan they'll sit on their arses but use it all for
political gain. It's Disgusting. But alias next election the fools of our
country will vote them back in again.
https://www.facebook.com/thejournal.ie/videos/18814154685455
35/UzpfSTEwMDAwNTQ3MjYwNDQ4Nzo4MTkyMDIyODE2MD
U1MTg/
“We have to hold people to account”- Senator Marc MacSharry to HSE's Tony O'Brien may 10th 2018
https://www.facebook.com/thejournal.ie/videos/1881357821884633/
Health Minister Simon Harris is to make a statement in the Dail in a few moments about the Cervical
Check scandal. He will take questions afterwards -
https://www.facebook.com/thejournal.ie/videos/1872064742813941/
ACCOUNTABILITY REALLY, people allowed to stand aside so they are still eligible for pay
and pension, and who should leave there job???? NOBODY!!!!, THEY SHOULD BE SACKED
The Chair has acted very unprofessionally! Laughing and skitting when such a serious issue
is under discussion. Disgraceful!!!
top the enourmous fees for consultations in this country , who are getting payed double
anyway, and then maybe we will have enough money for proper resourses here , total
disgrace....
Kathy Nolan · 1:47:05 And they want people to say yes to abortion and hand our
vote on life issue to politician. Absolutely No Way
Leo Varadkar, has thanked HSE staff for their hard work and dedication during Storm Emma. In
a letter addressed to Tony O’Brien, HSE ... Read the full letter
https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/media/pressrel/leo-varadkar-hse-thank-you-letter-2018.pdf
The grovelling letter sent to disgraced HSE boss Tony O’Brien from Leo Varadkar on ‘behalf of the
people of Ireland’ with a handwritten note requesting his service after retirement despite the countless
scandals he has presided over as head of the health service
cervicalcheck-memo-to-tony-obrien Taoiseach and Health Minister weren't made aware of HSE
'memo' on CervicalCheck HSE Director General Tony O’Brien has stepped down this evening.
http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2018/05/cervicalcheck-memo-to-tony-obrien.pdf
cervical cancer diagnosis from whom that information is being withheld by the HSE”. Earlier
today, the Health Minister Simon Harris published a memo he received two weeks before
Phelan’s case
https://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/0864_001.pdf
Wow, accountability for actions in Ireland?
Not good enough. He needs to be questioned immediately by the Gardai. 17 women
are dead!
He and all involved now need to be questioned by the Gardai into the deaths of the
women involved and those still suffering. They should not be allowed to get away
with no consequences like the religious did in the resent past scandals that no on
was held to account.
This is criminal and a garda investigation needs to be carried out, not just O Brien
but all those who have been involved in this. 17 women dead, numerous more
terminal over misdiagnosis and not advised until it was to late. Prosecutions need to
be made in this matter.
Harris should go too
Stepping down is not enough.
Jail all the perpetraitors and fucking murderers, and sue USA Cervical Cancer Smear
Lab and close them down, Build our Own lab in Ireland for Cervical Smear Test and
Breast Cancer check,
Jumped or pushed too little too late for many affected women
Him stepping down is far too late for all the women who were wronged by this
state.
Now arrest him and charge him with manslaughter
Nothing will change the HSE will keep the people working in the HSE as it’s number
1 priority
A proper ideal HSE structure should be worked out
The existing employees should be given an opportunity to apply to work in it
Those unsuccessful should be made redundant
It’s a pity Varadkar hadn’t the balls to sack him. Off to his next job with his pension
etc
That he was allowed to choose this action rather than an immediate dismissal is a
big black mark on Leo’s copybook.
Not fit to govern.
Don’t enjoy ur big fat pension. Curse your fat pension, along with all the other
followers of the perpetrators who were also involved fat greedy pigs.
You should be in jail and how you weren’t fired is beyond me.
HIQA to Mr Tony O'Brien, DG HSE ... copy of the letter issued by Minister Reilly
to Tony O'Brienseeking ... O'Connor Private Secretarv to Leo Varadkar T ...
https://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/FOI-2015-105-Doc-2-e-mail-plus-
2-letters.pdf
https://soundcloud.com/rte-radio-1/emotional-vicky-phelan-talks-to-ray-about-
cervicalcheck-scandal
But this afternoon, the HSE has confirmed that 17 women
have died.
The Limerick woman, who was diagnosed with cervical
cancer in 2014, last week settled a High Court action for
€2.5million against a US laboratory over the incorrect
2011 smear test.
Vicky told Mr D’Arcy on his radio show this afternoon: “To
think that there is 17 women, it was bad enough that I
knew there was three, now there’s 17.
“I’m quite upset today. I think it’s disgraceful.”
Vicky also told of the heartbreaking moment earlier today
when her seven-year-old son Darragh came home from
school and told her that one of his pals asked him: “Is your
mammy going to die?”
COURTPIX
2
Vicky with her husband Jim, left, and her solicitor Cian
O’Carroll
“I could be another one of those women. And if I had died,
I would be on that list.
“By God, am I going to take these guys on. It’s disgraceful
what they’re doing and what they’ve done to the women of
Ireland.”
The HSE has also confirmed this afternoon that 162
women who have, or have had, cervical cancer have yet
to be told that earlier smear tests which gave them a
negative result were incorrect.
It’s also confirmed that the HSE is having difficulty
contacting a further 13 women.
Vicky, who also has a 12-year-old daughter Amelia with
her husband Jim, said: “Obviously, I knew when I took the
case, I knew there were other women involved but I don’t
think anyone could have imagined the magnitude of this.
I thought it was bad enough, I didn’t think I’d be waking this morning to this kind of
news.”
Vicky also said she would love to speak to Dr David Gibbons, a former member of
the National Cervical Screening Programme who told RTE’s Morning Ireland earlier
today that he warned the then CEO of the National Cervical Screening Service at the
time Tony O’Brien – who is now director general of the HSE – against outsourcing
the smear tests to US labs.
But Dr Gibbons claims Mr O’Brien dismissed his concerns and the smear tests
continued to be outsourced.
Vicky said, in light of Dr Gibbons’ claim, she now considers an apology she received
from Mr O’Brien last week as “null and void”.
In response to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar saying that there is now going to be an inquiry
into the scandal, Vicky said: “If they do a type of inquiry where there’s a blanket ban
on reporting on it, until it all resolves – that’s going to work in their favour.
“Because then it will just go away quietly in their favour and disappear.
“I absolutely, 100% do not want to see that happening. They’ve fecked with the
wrong woman.”
When Ray asked Vicky if she would consider stepping back from keeping up with the
news and reporting about her case, she said she’s “not that kind of person” and that
the scope of the issue is motivating her to continue.
She said: “I won’t have achieved anything with what I’ve done if I’m not still alive…I
want to be alive to see the changes that this will effect going forward.
“So, you know, it’s another impetus for me to keep fighting, to live, basically…If I
have any control over it, My God, I am not going anywhere.”
In a statement to RTÉ, the HSE said: “When the National Cervical Screening
Programme was established, the process that was chosen followed best international
practice of countries that had well-established cervical screening programmes.
HSE boss Tony O'Brien to step down over cervical cancer controversy 2018-05-10-
briefing-note-health-service-executive-hse-en
https://static.rasset.ie/documents/news/2018/05/2018-05-10-briefing-note-health-
service-executive-hse-en.pdf
https://soundcloud.com/wlrfmwaterford/fianna-fail-spokesperson-stephen-
donnelly-speaks-to-eamon
Emma Ni Mathuna is one of the 209 women who has been diagnosed with
cervical cancer.
‘I would like to express my thanks to Tony
O’Brien for his many years of dedicated public
service. I know that he is standing down from his
role today because he believes it is in the best
interest of rebuilding public confidence in the
wake of the issues which have arisen in
CervicalCheck.
‘Tomorrow the Cabinet meeting will again
discuss this matter and the further measures
which can be put in place to care for and support
the women and families affected.’
Mr O’Brien was under increasing pressure to
follow CervicalCheck clinical director Grainne
Flannelly and step down following the revelations
that 209 women diagnosed with cervical cancer
had not been informed their smear tests were
under review
On Thursday, it emerged following an Oireachtas
Committee hearing that a memo was sent to Mr
O’Brien back in 2016 warning him of the potential
negative press surrounding the CervicalCheck
discrepancies.
Mr O’Brien had previously told a media briefing
that the first he heard of the scandal — and the
case of Vicky Phelan who first blew the lid —
was when Mrs Phelan was awarded €2.5m in the
High Court last month.
Limerick mother Mrs Phelan, 43, sued the HSE
and the Texas-based lab which botched her
smear test results back in 2011. The lab was
ordered to pay damaged; the case against the
HSE was struck out.
Vicky Phelan, pictured with her husband Jim, left, and her solicitor Cian O
Carroll, right, leaving the Four Courts. Pic: Collins Courts
Mrs Phelan is just one of 209 women whose
abnormal cells in a smear went undetected. A
total of 17 women whose smears were under
review have now died from cervical cancer.
Mr O’Brien had repeatedly insisted in the last two
weeks that he would not be stepping down from
his role as head of the HSE.
He sat in front of a PAC committee and told TDs
that he intended to see out the rest of his
contract — until July of this year — while
addressing the smear test scandal.
Questions have been asked at the PAC about the end of the March 2016
memo which lists ‘next steps’. Pic: Oireachtas.ie
The memo warns: ‘There is always a risk that in
communicating individual case reports to
clinicians of an individual patient reacting by
contacting the media if they feel that “screening
did not diagnose my cancer”.
‘This is a risk that is inherent in having a clinical
audit process as part of the national programme.’
‘Most importantly during the conduct of the
clinical audit to date no systematic quality
problem of concern as been identified,’ it adds.
3
Tony O’Brien, Director General of the HSE said the briefing did not ‘ring
alarm bells’. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Earlier today HSE chief Tony O’Brien told the
committee that a briefing he got in 2016 did not
‘ring alarm bells’.
He said the memo issued to him in July 2016
outlined a ‘communications protocol’ in relation
to the review of smear tests.
eric nelligan
5y
8mins ago
People like this leading the pro abortion Yes vote, they have no
compassion, care nor trust in women.
Vote no to keep women and unborn safe.
‘No follow-up’
Criticism has been levelled at the HSE and CervicalCheck in
recent days over the lack of follow-through in terms of
ensuring doctors inform all affected patients that their
smear test had been included in the audit process.
The memo shows O’Brien was briefed about the
“communications protocol” which had been prepared for
consulting clinicians.
The memo states that “the formal step of communicating
cytology review findings arising from the clinical audit to the
treating clinicians looking after individual women diagnosed
with cervical cancer” had begun.
Letters
The note also informed the HSE boss about the number of
letters that had been issued to GPs to date (86 in total up to
July 2016) and indicated that a further 200 letters would be
issued in the following months (July/August 2016).
The memo also highlighted a number of recommendations
to the HSE boss, such as the aim of introducing HPV testing,
which is yet to be introduced in Ireland (Health Minister
Simon Harris said it will be introduced this year).
Notably, the memo also highlights the need to establish
“formal links for statistical reporting with the National
Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI)”.
Yesterday the Oireachtas Health Committee was informed
that CervicalCheck knew for many years that there were
issues with the transfering of data from the NCRI.
Failure to reconcile CervicalCheck and NCR data meant the
HSE initially told the health minister that 1,482 cases of
cervical cancer had been diagnosed since its screening
programme began in 2008. It later emerged it was closure to
3,000.
Labour’s Alan Kelly, who chaired today’s PAC meeting, said
the memo showed that the communications strategy
outlined in the briefing note was not executed.
He said this showed there was “no follow-up or
accountability” by the HSE to ensure that clinicians had
spoken to the women affected.
It called the memo a ”devastating document” because of the
“tone and manner” in which it is written and highlighted the
sort of communications strategy CervicalCheck was
operating.
NEWS
Upset woman
Leo Varadkar has promised compensation for victims of the growing cervical cancer
scandal that could soar to €500million.
The pledge came as more women reported horror stories of finding out they had
tumours after being given the all-clear in smear tests.
It emerged a woman called Nicola had an exam in 2009 which came back negative
but she died of cancer in 2012 aged 32.
The Taoiseach’s redress scheme pledge came as the numbers affected by the
misdiagnosis potentially doubled, from just under 1,500 to as many as 3,000.
As it stands 208 in the original audit of 1,482 were given the wrong results – with 17
now dead – but there could be hundreds more misdiagnoses.
The Health Department’s Dr Tony Holohan told a Dail committee figures for a
second audit are not yet known.
Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan
arriving to an Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health to
discuss the Cervical Check programme at Leinster House
A compromise solution was agreed on Wednesday night by the Health Minister
Simon Harris and the opposition parties over the CervicalCheck scandal investigation
process.
An international expert will be assigned to head up the inquiry and it will report back
by the end of June.
Meanwhile a source told the Irish Mirror that the Health Information and Quality
Authority (HIQA) inquiry is now “on pause”.
As the scandal grew a man told RTE’s Liveline how his wife ended up with stage 2
cervical cancer 14 months after getting the all-clear from a smear test.
David’s spouse Nicola passed away in 2012 after being told she was fine in 2009.
Yesterday HSE boss Tony O’Brien told the Oireachtas Health Committee that of the
17 tragic women whose tests were reviewed, two learned their new results before they
died.
He also confirmed the State Claims Agency has listed 10 cases as active, with a
potential extra one.
If these women obtained the same compensation as Vicky Phelan, who received
€2.5million last week, the bill could hit €27.5million but the redress scheme might
end up costing €500million.
Labour’s Alan Kelly told the hearing the public sees the scandal as “a massive cover-
up” or the “largest examples of incompetence in the history of Irish healthcare
management”.
Mr O’Brien added the disclosures came as a “personal blow” to him as he started his
career in Breastcheck.
But Fine Gael TD Kate O’Connell took Mr O’Brien to task by saying Irish women
had been let down by the health service - and him.
She added: “You said at the end of your statement this was a personal blow to you.
I’d like to make it clear this is not about you – you are the last person this is about.
“It’s about the women of Ireland who have been let down by the health service and by
you.”
He said: “We will need a scheme of redress for women whose cancer was missed and
should have been detected beyond normal error and for women where there was a
breach of duty to inform them of the audit results.
We will need to have a scheme of redress but we will need to establish the facts
before we do that.
“Once again, I want to say how deeply concerned and upset I and the whole
Government are at the situation with which we are now grappling.”
Mr Varadkar also said a decision has been taken to bring in a new panel from to audit
again the CervicalCheck programme and the possible misdiagnoses.
“We do not have the exact figure but it is between 2,000 and 3,000.”
Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said the Taoiseach and his Government had let
people down in the midst of the crisis.
He added: “Ministers have run to the hills and TV programmes have been absent of
senior ministers to explain things to the public.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald hit out at the “national scandal” involving
“deceit of the gravest nature.”
Sinn Fein TD's Louise O'Reilly, Mary Lou McDonald TD
speaking to media on the plinth of Leinster House,Dublin.
She said she was shocked at the Taoiseach’s use of terms such as “cock-up” in
relation to the scandal, adding he has no understanding of accountability.
She said: “It beggars belief the head of government would choose to use such
terminology when speaking about a catastrophic failure and a clear cover-up on the
part the HSE.
“Seventeen women have died. Many more have been left in the dark regarding life-
and-death medical information.
“That is not the stuff of mistakes. I think the use of such flippant language runs the
real risk of invalidating what these women are being subjected to.
“The fact is that Tony O’Brien has presided over negligence, concealment and
misinformation with the most serious consequences for women and their families.
He cannot remain as director general. That is the very least women affected and their
families need to see.
“It is a scandal that Mr O’Brien will be allowed by the Taoiseach to sail off into the
sunset to a large pension having left a scene of devastation and trauma behind him.
“Mr Varadkar must sack this incompetent man.”
https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/health-news/compensation-bill-victims-
cervical-cancer-12471252
http://www.thejournal.ie/varadkar-cervicalcheck-3988626-May2018/
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