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Inquiry into Smear Cervical

Check scandal cover up in


murder and lies against Irish
woman of Ireland, By HSE,
even US laboratory wanted
confidentiality clause in
Vicky Phelan case, USA, the
Irish Woman will not be
silenced
May 10th 2018

It is also looking at the tendering and operation of the labs


used

Minister for Health Simon Harris at Our Lady's Hospice Care


Services, Harold's Cross
An inquiry into the Cervical Check scandal will begin its
work today, after ministers signed off on it at Cabinet.
The Scoping Inquiry will be led by Dr Gabriel Scally from the
Royal Society of Medicine in the UK.
Dr Scally has also asked an expert in women's health, Dr
Karin Denton - Consultant in Cellular Pathology at North
Bristol NHS Trust - to assist in the review.
It will look at why 209 women were not told about their
incorrect smear results.
Health Minister Simon Harris brought the terms of reference
for the investigation to Cabinet for approval.
It will investigate the non-disclosure to patients of the Cervical
Check smear test audits, management of the scheme, and will
try to establish who knew what in the Health Service
Executive and the Department of Health.
It will also look at the tendering and operation of the labs used
by Cervical Check to examine smear tests.
Dr Scally is due to report his findings to the Health Minister by
the end of June.
Minister Harris says it is a lot to examine in a short time frame.
"While they're very ambitious terms of reference and very
comprehensive, because they do have cross-party input, Dr
Scally's job and Dr Denton's will be to answer as many as
possible, to provide as much facts as possible.
"So when Government and the Oireachtas considers this
issue again at the end of June, we can say 'well look: these
questions have already been satisfactorily answered, we have
the information (on) this, we don't have the information (on)
this and can have I suppose therefore a more focused
commission of investigation".
He added: "I would like to acknowledge again the tireless
efforts of Vicky Phelan. I have briefed her on these
developments and I understand that Dr Scally has already
spoken with her and will meet with her shortly."
"Really important questions"
Speaking earlier before Cabinet on Tuesday, Minister Harris
said: "We don't need a situation now where some process is
set up that will go on and on and on for months and months
and even longer.
"We need to try and get answers to really important questions
that women right across the country are asking today.
"Questions about: can I be sure I'm going to get my health
records, what went wrong here, how can you give me
confidence back in this really important screening service and
what about the labs we're using".
https://www.newstalk.com/Dil-hears-interview-of-woman-with-
terminal-cancer-seared-the-soul-of-our-country

Cervical screening contract


awarded based on "lowest
price"
196 women affected by the scandal have been contacted by
the HSE
NEWS
may 5th 2018Share to Google+
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The contract to carry out cervical screening on behalf of
the State was awarded to two US companies because
they offered the cheapest price available.
The Irish Independent reports that the tender was awarded
based on cost without detailing any other criteria.
The HSE has insisted that cost was only one of a number of
criteria considered – however it has not confirmed what else
the decision was based on.
It comes after the health service confirmed it had contacted
196 women and their families affected by the Cervical Check
scandal.
The scandal was brought to light after terminally ill mother
Vicky Phelan settled a case after having her diagnosis
delayed, leading to her cancer being more developed when
she learned of it.
It later emerged that of 208 women whose smear tests were
reviewed as part of an audit of Ireland’s national cervical
screening programme, only 46 had been informed about the
history of their smear tests.
in an update to its figures last night, the HSE Serious Incident
Management Team (SIMT) said a total of 209 cases were
identified.
The group said it has since identified another woman that
requires follow-up, bringing the total to 210.
Of these, 196 have now been contacted.
In the update, the HSE said: "Most women have at this stage
been contacted and meetings either held or arranged to
discuss the audit and the response.”
"As some women are out of the country or not contactable,
this record of contacts will be updated after Tuesday May 9th."
The HSE has also published an advice sheet for those
affected.
It has pledged to begin providing a daily update of the SMITs
work on the Cervical Check scandal moving forward.
Calls to the HSE information line will be returned throughout
the weekend and next week.
The Cervical Check information line is
available on 1800-45-45-55.
https://www.newstalk.com/Cervical-screening-contract-
awarded-based-on-lowest-price
Tony O'Brien just tweeted
Is this real? Someone on the directorate of the HSE, literally the head honcho resorts to
whining on twitter when a memo literally damning his entire organisation and probably
indicting the Taoiseach to boot gets publicised after literally weeks of lies and blocking on his
part. Tell me this is fake, please before there is armed insurrection on the streets.
Fucking narcissistic bastard, charged with fucking presiding over genocide he should be......women in
this country need to stop everything and take a serious stand, we all know at this stage the only time
anything happens is if we get up and do it ourselves, ladies we all mobilised for all sorts of issues, this
is one of the most traumatising incidents for me so far, i watched a woman last night on telly the same
age as me tell a story about her child asking her why she was leaving them, the woman is being slowly
murdered by a shower of cunts who took a decision that they wanted good PR over women’s lives,
their husbands and children’s lives. She is one of how many? the country needs to be shut down over
this and between us we know how to cause disruption, it has to be done, if we take this all were doing
is letting them get comfortable with continuing this type of abuse, they’re ignoring standards towards
us coos they know they can get away with it, this is not the level of care I’m happy for my daughters to
have......these bastards responsible will all get lovely pensions and a nice handshake and moved off to a
bigger salary job, when they should be stripped of everything and they’re big pensions given to the
children of the women who are dead and dying at their hands. I’m absolutely outraged and that that self
entitled bastard has the audacity to tweet something like that shows exactly what he cares about in all
this
When you run something like a shop you know what goes on.
When you run a company you know what goes on, BECAUSE you delegate management.
When you run the HSE, you know what goes on because the same process exists.
Just like running a government. The institution requires the same process.
So in my opinion They All know what goes on.
In fact l think they should all be done for manslaughter.
Departments understood the negligence knew about situations whereby people's lives were at risk and
some have now passed. If this problem was addressed initially some may stood a fighting chance.
Na, the present government to go beyond a shadow of a doubt.

102 other sick twisted individuals


HAS ANY MAN EVER BEEN CHARGED WITH KILLING OF THE OF THE IRISH
WOMAN OF THE SMEAR CERVICAL CHECK CONTROVERSY, WHEN MR O BRIEN
AND OTHER HEALTH MINISTER TD’S TRIED TO HE HAS DELIBERATELY COVER
UP THERE CRIMES OF MURDER OR MAYBE EVEN MANSLAUGHTER, TARGETING
VUNERABLE WOMAN AND ABUSING THEIR RIGHTTS BY VANDICATED THEIR
DNA WITHOUT CONSENT SENDING IT TO ANOTHER FOREIGN COUNTRY LIKE
USA WHO CANNOT EVEN LOOK AFTER THERE OWN PEOPLE NEVER MIND IRISH
WOMAN ALL THE WAY FROM IRELAND, US WOMAN NEVER SIGNED AGREED
CONTRACT WITH THESE USA MURDERING PERPETRAITORS CAUSING PAIN AND
HARROW AND DEATH UPON THE IRISH WOMAN OF IRELAND

John’s youngest son improvises on Mother’s Day and makes a


card instead for his dad, while his classmates make cards for
their mums.

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’.

When the family returned home they went to their GP and


John’s wife was referred for a colposcopy. She waited six
months.
In September, she haemorrhaged so badly, that one day she
collapsed and lost consciousness. She was admitted to
Portlaoise Hospital but discharged the following day because
her blood count had improved. John’s wife subsequently
contacted the hospital to inquire about the colposcopy delay —
only to be told they no longer did colposcopy.
John said his wife’s gynaecological nurse contacted Tallaght
Hospital and a consultant agreed to see her within days.
On December 16, 2009, John, his wife, and their baby attended
Tallaght where the gynaecologist discovered a 6cm tumour. At
that stage she was told she had a 70% chance of survival and
that she would begin treatment after Christmas. In fact it was
March before treatment began.
“That time was devastating. We tried to remain positive over
Christmas. We had five children and the youngest was
oblivious,” John said.
John’s wife lived for 16 months post-diagnosis — she died on
April 7, 2011 — and put up “one hell of a fight for her life” even
though she was in tremendous pain and never stopped
bleeding and spent half of the 16 months in hospital.

It was horrific, they [the children] used to be asking me if their


mam was going to die

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.

Asked if he was satisfied with the way the scandal is being


handled, John said: “I really, honestly think that incompetent
man, Tony O’Brien, should be removed from the job
immediately.”
He said he believed there would be “more horrific stories” to
follow, and “lives lost”.
John’s solicitor, Damien Tansey, said he has received “30 to 40
calls” from people concerned about how they or their loved
ones were treated as cancer patients. He said the calls
extended to concerns about other cancers, not just cervical.
He said John was suing the HSE, the entity operating the
cervical smear programme, and the lab in the US.
Tony O’Brien, the embattled director general of the Health
Service Executive last night bowed to mounting political
pressure over the smear test scandal and resigned.

In a bid to contain the escalating cancer crisis, the Government


cancelled a scheduled Cabinet meeting in Monaghan today
and will instead gather in Dublin with under fire Taoiseach Leo
Varadkar and Health Minister Simon Harris.
Following the release of three explosive memos from 2016 and
a harrowing radio with terminally ill mother of five Emma Mhic
Mhathúna, Mr O’Brien was facing a Dáil motion of no
confidence next week and decided to jump before he was
pushed.
It is understood Mr O’Brien will depart with his full terms of his
contract being honoured and will not suffer adversely
financially by leaving prematurely.
The three memos confirmed Mr O’Brien knew about the smear
test errors as far back as March 2016 but also showed the HSE
prioritised its legal position and the potential media fallout,
while it neglected to consider the impact on the women
affected.
Following their publication, Fianna Fáil and the Labour Party
said they would be backing a Sinn Féin motion which meant Mr
O’Brien’s position was no longer tenable.
Mr Harris met with Mr O’Brien, who informed him of his
decision to step down now as opposed to in June as previously
planned. He will leave at the close of business today.
In a statement, Mr O’Brien said he was stepping down “in order
to avoid any further impact to the delivery of health and social
care services, and in particular the cancer screening services
that have become the focus of intense political debate in
recent days”.
The departure of Mr O’Brien will see attention shift to
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Mr Harris about what they knew
of the scandal, and when.
Mr Varadkar was health minister in 2016 when the first memos
were sent to Mr O’Brien, but his spokesman insisted last night
he and Mr Harris were never aware of them.

These documents were not brought to the attention of any


minister for health,” it said.

The memos emerged in a confrontational showdown at the


PAC between angry TDs and Mr O’Brien.
He said that while he was aware of the 2016 memo, it did not
“ring alarm bells”, adding he was never told about the number
of women affected and that the memo specifically said they
would all be contacted.
However, after the HSE provided the PAC with a copy of the
memo — after Mr O Brien had left — it emerged the 2016
document made no reference whatsoever to contacting
women.
Instead, it focused on limiting the damage a headline saying
“screening did not diagnose my cancer” would cause, said the
HSE should “pause all letters” and urged officials to “await the
advice of solicitors”.
The memos’ publication led two ministers who sit at Cabinet —
Katherine Zappone and Finian McGrath — to restate their calls
for Mr O’Brien to resign immediately.
Childrens’ Minister Katherine Zappone described the 2016
memo to Mr O’Brien as a “game-changer”.
Independent Alliance Disability Minister Finian McGrath also
called for Mr O’Brien to stand aside.

I believe in accountability and I am appalled at the revelations


today,” he said.

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”.

We thought we could not be shocked anymore. So many times


in the past we have heard horror stories about failures in our
health system.

But for the hundreds of thousands of people who listened to


Morning Ireland yesterday, that is exactly what happened.

In our kitchens, in our cars, or on the bus and train to work, we


listened as Emma Mhic Mhathúna, a terminally ill mother of
five, gave her harrowing account of how her smear test was
mis-diagnosed.

“I don’t even know if my little baby is going to remember me.


This isn’t fair. And no amount of money can replace this,” she
said as she fought back her tears.

The poor telephone made you strain to hear her words and in a
way made those words all the more powerful.

In the Dáil, her interview dominated Leaders’ Questions.

Fianna Fáil deputy leader Dara Calleary appeared to become


emotional when he referred to the interview.

He pleaded with Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to end the


defending of the indefensible and to deliver the accountability.

“The time for defiant defence is over, the time to defend the
realm is over. Please stop,” said Calleary.

“Please stop as a Government and listen, but more


importantly, hear the story of Emma, of Vicky Phelan, Irene
Teap, the deceased women, and all those women who are
currently going through this journey.
Emma’s is only one story in an ocean of anguish. I ask the
minister to provide the House with his thoughts as to whether
all of these women have been failed by the State. Does he
believe there should be immediate accountability?”

There were fresh calls for Tony O’Brien, the embattled director
general of the HSE to resign.

O’Brien was in the building facing a grilling from a most


displeased public accounts committee.

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”.

Under questioning, O’Brien made reference to a memo dating


back to 2016 warning him that there may be a problem relating
to the cervical smear test programme.
He did say at that stage that what was made known to him did
not cause “alarm bells to go off”.

He offered to make the memo available to the committee,


which he did a few hours later.

When it landed, it was a bombshell.

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.

Reading the eight-page document, one cannot be anything but


struck by the focus of the memo.

A memo of containment aimed at preserving the entity of the


HSE ahead of the needs of the women involved, some of
whom, like Emma and Vicky, are terminally ill.

The tone of the memos are dominated by the potential media


fall-out if and when the scandal would become public.

We know O’Brien knew from early 2016 that a firestorm was


brewing and that a reactive media strategy was being devised.
“A communications protocol has been prepared for consulting
clinicians to address their questions,” states the memo.

But most alarming, the memo advises that communications to


the doctors of patients cease until the legal advice returns.

“Next steps: Pause all letters; await advice of solicitors; decide


on the order and volume of dispatch to mitigate any potential
risks and continue to prepare reactive communications
response for a media headline that ‘screening did not diagnose
my cancer’,” it states.

Not one mention of telling the women affected.

Not one.

The memo and its contents was rounded upon by angry


members of the committee who branded it an illustration of a
situation whereby “containment and looking after the house”
took priority over the needs of vulnerable and maltreated
women.

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.

The question has to be asked that when women are dying


because of such colossal failures, just what do people have to
do to be sacked in our public service?

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?

Either way he has questions to answer.

Just when we thought we couldn’t be shocked anymore, a day


like yesterday occurs.

It would make you sick.

Pressure is now mounting on senior Department of Health


officials to reveal why they did not inform the Minister of
Health about the smear check controversy back in 2016.

It has been revealed that three memos were sent to officials,


including Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer in the
Department of Health, two years ago which revealed that
CervicalCheck were preparing a response to possible media
headlines of "screening did not diagnose my cancer".
View image on Twitter

Irish Examiner

@irishexaminer

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 via
@McConnellDaniel
4:11 PM - May 10, 2018

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However, neither Leo Varadkar who was Health Minister when
the first memo was sent, nor Simon Harris were informed of
the issue.

The memos also stated that it had been decided to "pause"


letters informing patients and the order or volume of dispatch
would be based on "mitigating potential risks".

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.

HSE director Tony O'Brien

Ministers are currently holding a Cabinet meeting to discuss


the fall-out of the CervicalCheck scandal and what measures
must now be put in place to support women impacted by it.

Sinn Féin health spokesperson Louise O'Reilly said it is now


critically important to find out who knew what and why
information was not passed on to the Minister.
We need to find out if information was kept from Ministers
why that information was kept from Ministers but more
importantly why those Ministers themselves are not insisting
that all information that is relevant comes across their desk.

"When an issue like this emerges it should be brought to the


attention of the relevant Minister of Health.

"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."

Speaking outside Leinster House, Ms O'Reilly said:

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.

She said it was "regrettable" that it had taken such a serious


scandal to prompt a discussion around accountability in the
public service and State bodies.

Earlier: ‘No hiding place’ in


search for truth over
CervicalCheck scandal, says
Minister

Update - 12.20pm: Health minister Simon Harris has warned


officials there will be no hiding place in the quest to find the
truth around a deepening cervical smear test controversy.

Mr Harris said recent revelations that 209 cancer patients had


previously received wrongly-interpreted all-clear smear results
had devastated the country.

Ahead of a Cabinet meeting, Mr Harris said: “I want to assure


the public that I am equally furious about what is emerging and
there will be nowhere to hide, there will be accountability.”

Emma Mhic Mhathuna, 37, from Co Kerry, revealed on


Thursday that she had now been diagnosed with terminal
cancer, five years after being told her smear tests were normal.

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.

“I think the whole country is devastated, shocked, upset and


hurt,” said Mr Harris.
“People like Emma and Vicky, people like Stephen Teap and
others who have told their story, they really have touched a
nerve with all of us.

“But what they need is not platitudes, they need actions, and I
am determined we are going to deliver those actions.”

“The Cabinet is holding a special meeting at Government


Buildings in Dublin on Friday to agree a package of measures,
such as drug and treatment costs, to support those affected by
the errors.

It comes hours after HSE director general Tony O’Brien quit.

Mr Harris said the Government needed to demonstrate that it


cared about the impacted women and the next of kin of those
patients who have since died.

There are 10 legal challenges similar to Ms Phelan’s in the


pipeline. Mr Harris said he would take steps to ensure those
women would not have to go to court to get answers.

“I don’t want any of them to go to court,” he said.


The minister said he would appoint a new director general of
the HSE later on Friday and also move next week to introduce
more accountability within the organisation.

"There is no place to hide here, all of the facts need to be


established and all of the facts will be established,” he said.

“There will be and must accountability and answers here for


the women of Ireland and I am absolutely determined in
relation to that.”

11.05am: 'More heads will have to roll,' says Vicky


PhelanVicky Phelan has said that "more accountability needs
to come", after hearing of the resignation of the HSE's Director
General Tony O'Brien.

Vicky told Richard Curran on RTE Radio 1's Today programme


this morning that she had a phone call from Minister Simon
Harris this morning outlining the steps he is putting in place to
deal with the CervicalCheck scandal.

She said: "More heads will have to roll".

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'.

These memos are even more damning...containment and


media management was the priority not the women.
Mr O'Brien tweeted this morning, saying: "When I appear in
public - say at a Committee I conduct myself against a simple
standard. Would I be happy for my children or my mother to
see how I behave? I sometimes look across the room and hope
their children will never see and hear how they behave."

Tony O'Brien
@dghealthservice

When I appear in public - say at a Committee I conduct


myself against a simple standard. Would I be happy for
my children or my mother to see how I behave? I
sometimes look across the room and hope their children
will never see and hear how they behave.
8:46 AM - May 11, 2018
• 
 196
• 
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Ms Phelan said: "His tweet smacks of someone used to getting


his own way, throwing ones toys out of the pram springs to
mind.

"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.

Update - 8.50am: Vicky Phelan's solicitor says an apology


from one of the US labs at the centre of the CervicalCheck
controversy is too little too late.

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.

In a statement, Clinical Pathology Laboratories said what


happened to Vicky Phelan and her family was tragic and that it
deeply regrets the outcome.

They said that they hope the settlement reached will allow Ms
Phelan to gain additional treatment and an improved
prognosis and quality of life.

They revealed that the screenings were performed through


manual examinations of individual slides, without the benefit
of computer-based imaging and a separate HPV test.

The company said it was performed to the highest quality


standards but, despite this, it is internationally recognised that
no screening program is 100% effective and all have an
inherent margin for error.

CPL said the results of cervical cancer screens conducted by its


lab, and the other one in the US as well as the two Irish
laboratories, are well above the accepted accuracy rate for the
type of screening specified by the HSE and have been
continuously monitored and repeatedly endorsed by Irish
health authorities and US agencies.

However, her solicitor Cian O’Carroll says the apology is not


accepted.

Mr O'Carroll said: "Perhaps if it was offered at the appropriate


time, which would have been three or more weeks ago, it
might have had a little more credibility.
"They've also failed to comment on, acknowledge or apologise
for the appaling hurt they caused by attempting to force a
confidentiality clause on Vicky Phelan and forcing her on with
the trial in court, so no it isn't acceptable."

On The Tonight Show last night on TV3, Emma Mhic


Mhathúna welcomed Tony O’Brien's resignation.

Emma said: “The sense of joy is incalculable.

"It's long overdue and it's a disgrace that I had to break down
for that to happen."

6.38am: Cabinet to consider more action over CervicalCheck


scandal on Tony O'Brien's last day as HSE chief

Today will be Tony O'Brien's last day as head of the HSE.

Mr O'Brien has confirmed he will resign as Director General in


the wake of the CervicalCheck scandal.

Anger peaked around Leinster House last night with two


Ministers openly calling for Mr O'Brien to go after documents
showed HSE management were preparing media strategies in
case this came to light two years ago.

Mr O'Brien has been put through the wringer by politicians this


week, and admitted the scandal has hit him.
He said: "Given that I started my own career in the public
service, in BreastCheck, the recent events are indeed a
personal blow to me."

In his departing statement Tony O'Brien said he will step down


as of close of business today to avoid any further impact on the
health service.

HSE Ireland

@HSELive

Press Statement - Director General of HSE Tony O’Brien -


https://www.
hse.ie/eng/services/n
ews/media/pressrel/press-statement-director-general-of-
hse-tony-o-brien.html

9:14 PM - May 10, 2018

Press Statement - Director General of HSE Tony O’Brien -


Ireland's Health Service
The Director General of the HSE, Tony O’Brien, to step down from
his position from close of business Friday 11th May.
hse.ie

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Press Statement - Director General of


HSE Tony O’Brien

Mr O'Brien will step down at the close of business tomorrow


"in order to avoid any further impact to the delivery of health
and social care services, in particular the cancer screening
services that have become the focus of intense political debate
in recent days".
The Director General (DG) of the HSE, Tony O’Brien, wishes to announce this evening
(Thursday 10th May 2018) his intention to step down from his position as DG with effect from
close of business tomorrow (Friday 11th May).
Mr. O’Brien said that he has made his decision in order to avoid any further impact to the delivery
of health and social care services, and in particular the cancer screening services that have become
the focus of intense political debate in recent days.
He said, 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.
Mr. O’Brien said that he looks forward to engaging with the Review and that he will co-operate
fully with Professor Scally and his team in this work.
Mr O’Brien said he has been proud to lead the health services and the many staff who have
worked tirelessly and with great dedication to provide health and social care services in a very
challenging environment.
He emphasised that he remains deeply committed to health reform in Ireland and in particular the
full implementation of the Slainte Care Report. He emphasised his fullest support for Minister
Harris in this regard.
Last updated on: 10 / 05 / 2018
https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/media/pressrel/press-
statement-director-general-of-hse-tony-o-brien.html
Cervical Check Daily Report 10 May
2018
The HSE Serious Incident Management Team has been working to respond to the failings
revealed by the CervicalCheck audit. This report is being provided daily to outline and provide a
progress update on the response to this evolving situation.

1. Contact with women directly affected


Hospitals have been working since the SIMT was established to contact all the women affected
and to discuss the audit with them.

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.

2. Women diagnosed with cancer but not notified to


CervicalCheck
The HSE is working with the National Cancer Registry of Ireland and the Department of Health to
identify any other women who had cervical cancer during this time, who may also have had a
CervicalCheck test. Reconciliation of data on relevant cases is currently ongoing between
CervicalCheck and NCRI.

3. Contact from women concerned about the


CervicalCheck audit
28/ 10/
29/4 30/4 1/5 2/5 3/5 4/5 5/5 6/5 7/5 8/5 9/5 Total
4 5
Calls
1,07 1,89 2,10 1,99 1,61 126 14,12
Answere 866 983 218 93 234 947 838
6 1 9 1 9 2 7
d
Call back 1,72 1,47 1,32
744 935 849 373 105 62 125 593 396 484 9,191
requests 5 3 7
Avg. wait 17:2 0:1 0:0 0:0 0:1 0:1
7:28 7.06 2:55 3:40 0:41 0:18 0.46
times 6 6 6 9 7 1
The service provided on our information line and waiting times continue to improve, but our
clinical call team remain extremely busy. Priority for call backs from the clinical team is being
given to women with specific clinical queries or a history of cervical cancer.
Calls are being returned to women following a careful exercise of checking records, checking data
quality and assigning calls to health professionals. The call backs take a period of time as in those
cases where the person has a history of referral for colposcopy treatment or a history of cancer, we
are providing a clinical consultation with a clinical staff member with expertise in colposcopy or
cancer treatment. To date, 5,678 calls have been returned to women and every effort will continue
to be made to ensure that contact is made as quickly as possible with all those who have requested
a call back.

4. Public Information - Advice and Support for


Women
Every effort is being made to provide information and advice to women who may be concerned.
Information and advice for women is being updated on cervicalcheck.ie and is being provided on
a range of channels as described below.
The clinical advice is that women who have had normal test results in the past can continue to
participate in the cervical screening programme according to their normal schedule.
Women should be directed to cervicalcheck.ie in the first instance for information and advice on
what to do.

197,640 since April 26


Visits to CervicalCheck.ie 626,031 page views, 17,313 checked
the register
Organic searches, social media, news
Top Sources of traffic to cervicalcheck.ie
sites
Video advice for women with normal Featuring Dr. Peter McKenna,
results Consultant Obs/Gynae. Views: 9,074
Facebook PostsCervicalCheck/HSE 11
Impressions Over 1million impressions now reached
Comments on page 1324 comments reviewed by HSE Comms
Private Messages 247 all replied to by HSE Comms

55 Tweets since Apr 27


Twitter Activity: 278,529 impressions
8,478 engagements

Approx. 7,000 SMS issued May 3


Text messages issued to women who Text message sent to approx. 7,500 people on
called the Information line May 8 apologising for the delay in returning
calls

74,806 impressions and 9,067 clicks


Google Search Ads
since May 3

5. Health Professional Information - Advice and


Support for Women
The clinical advice is that women who have had normal test results in the past can continue to
participate in the cervical screening programme according to their normal schedule, and women
with a history of normal test results are advised to read the information on cervicalcheck.ie and
then make contact with their GP if they remain concerned. CervicalCheck has issued an update to
GPs and smear-takers participating in the programme, and to colposcopy clinics and cancer
centres nationwide.
Published on cervicalcheck.ie May 2
Posted to GPs/Smeartakers May 2 and 3
Updated Q&A and Advice Sheet for Women being published on
Information for GPs cervicalcheck.ie May 4
and Smeartakers A further communication issued to all GPs on May 9 advising them of
the reimbursement arrangements for women who have requested an
additional smear. This along with an updated Q&A is now available on
cervicalcheck.ie

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

Joint Committee on Health Meeting


Opening Statement by Mr. Tony O
Brien
May 11th 2018
Good afternoon Chairman and members of the Committee. Thank you for the invitation to attend the
Committee meeting to discuss the current issues surrounding the Cervical Check Programme. I am
joined today by my colleagues:
 Dr Colm Henry, HSE Chief Clinical Officer
 Dr Jerome Coffey, National Director, National Screening Service
 Dr Peter McKenna, Clinical Director, National Women and Infants Programme
 Ms Angela Fitzgerald, Deputy National Director, Acute Services
 Mr John Gleeson, Programme Manager, CervicalCheck
 Mr. Patrick Lynch, National Director, Quality Assurance and Verification, Chair of SIMT

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:

 provided 3 million cervical screenings to over 1.1 million women


 detected over 50,000 high grade pre-cancerous changes in women, reducing their risk of
cervical cancer by 90%.
 These were women without any symptoms who, without screening, would not have known
they had pre-cancerous changes.

Furthermore the programme has:

 detected over 35,000 cases of low grade cell changes and


 over 1,200 cancers

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.

Number of women who had been communicated with


On the 30th April 2018, following the review of patient charts over the weekend it was established that
of the 208 women concerned;

 46 women have already been communicated with.


 162 women had not been told.

Arrangements for communicating with women concerned


Each Hospital Group was then required to ensure that;

 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.

However, Mr O'Brien said he is confident planned reviews will


prove the worth of CervicalCheck.

He said that "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".

Mr O'Brien said he looks forward to co-operating and engaging


with the review.

The statement said that Mr O’Brien "has been proud to lead


the health services and the many staff who have worked
tirelessly and with great dedication to provide health and social
care services in a very challenging environment.
https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/media/pressrel/joint-
committee-on-health-meeting-opening-statement.html
HSE boss Tony O’Brien saw three memos as far back as early
2016 which confirmed a process was underway to tell women
about their misdiagnosis and also to inform him a
“communications protocol” was in place.
Tony O'Brien

@dghealthservice
Apr 9
More

Letter from An Taoiseach @campaignforleo to all @HSELive


colleagues. #weareourvalues @AmbulanceNAS @HSEvalues Thank
you Taoiseach.
Tony O'Brien
@dghealthservice
5h
5 hours ago
More

When I appear in public - say at a Committee I conduct myself against a


simple standard. Would I be happy for my children or my mother to see
how I behave? I sometimes look across the room and hope their
children will never see and hear how they behave.
https://www.facebook.com/events/192752291353524/
https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/media/pressrel/cervical-
check-daily-report-may-5.pdf

Cervical Check Audit

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.

Clinical Expert Panel;

- Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health


- Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer, HSE
- Professor Mary Horgan, President Royal College of Physicians
- Professor Donal Brennan, Professor of Gynaecological Oncology
and Gynaecological Oncologist, Mater Misericordia University
Hospital, the National Maternity Hospital and St Vincent’s Hospital
- Dr Mary Short, General Practitioner
- Dr Jerome Coffey, Director National Cancer Control Programme
- Mr Donal Buggy, Head of Services and Advocacy, Irish Cancer
Society
- MC: Dr Kathleen Mac Lellan, Director, National Patient Safety
Office, Department of Health

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=R9Zse
Pl17Bo

Outgoing HSE chief Tony


O'Brien launches
personal attack on TDs

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.

In a message posted on his Twitter account, Mr O’Brien said he hoped the


children of TDs questioning him at Oireachtas committee meetings over
handling of the health service do not watch their public performances.
“When I appear in public - say at a Committee I conduct myself against a
simple standard. Would I be happy for my children or my mother to see how I
behave?” Mr O’Brien

“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.

The emergence of damning internal HSE memo also put pressure on Mr


O’Brien to resign.

Mr O'Brien clashed with Fianna Fáil TD Marc McSharry at the Public


Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday.

Mr MacSharry had challenged Mr O'Brien to explain how his positon is


tenable in the wake of the screening scandal.

There were heated exchanges between the pair.

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".

Mr O'Brien accused Mr MacSharry of "causing hysteria".

Mr MacSharry asked where the accountability is while "we’re in here kicking a


football around about let’s have an investigation to see what happened."

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."

Also speaking on RTÉ Radio, Ms Phelan thanked Mr MacSharry for his


questions to Mr O'Brien and said she believes his contribution was "beyond
reproach".

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].

"That personal frustration and anger may have come across in my


questioning.

"Looking back, there is nothing I would change.

"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.

"More heads will have to roll," she said.

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

""Hell hath no fury"


CervicalCheck scandal and cover up Briefing Note for Minister Harris
1.5.2018

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

Policy Paper on Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy


9.3.2018

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/

“A Communications protocol has been prepared for consulting


clinicians to address their questions,” the memo said.
One memo from March 2016 outlined there “is always the 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’”.
But the memo did state that “no systematic quality problem of
concern has been identified” in an audit of the smears.
Mr O’Brien was also told that one of the cytology laboratories
had sought legal advice into the right of the programme to
communicate audit outcomes. “The programme is liaising with
legal team on this,” the memo states.
But most alarming, the memo advises a stopping of
communications to the doctors of patients until legal advice
returns.

Next steps: pause all letters... Await advice of solicitors...


Decide on the order and volume of dispatch to mitigate any
potential risks... continue to prepare reactive communications
response for a media headline that ‘screening did not diagnose
my cancer’.
One memo from CervicalCheck to Mr O’Brien, dating from July
2016, said the service would be making the results known to
the clinicians looking after individual women diagnosed with
cervical cancer.
“Given the volume of letters that will be issuing over the
coming weeks, it is possible that individual cases could appear
in the public domain,” the memo warned.
“This is a risk that is inherent in having a clinical audit process
as part of the national programme. The clinical audit process
will continue to generate case reports from here on,” the
memo stated.
In the documents, released to the Public Accounts Committee
and obtained by the Irish Examiner, the HSE was advised in
March 2016 that there was a risk patients may start contacting
media outlets to say screening did not diagnose their cancer.

It states that he "remains deeply committed to health reform


in Ireland and in particular the full implementation of the
Slainte Care Report" and retains his "fullest support for
Minister Harris in this regard".

The Cabinet will consider if there should be any further


responses at a meeting this morning.
US laboratory wanted
confidentiality clause in Vicky
Phelan case
A UK expert will lead the inquiry into the CervicalCheck controversy.
May 9, 18

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

Health Minister says UK expert tasked with scoping


inquiry into CervicalCheck will arrive in Ireland today
1:47 PM - May 8, 2018

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@TJ_Politics

Harris outlines some of the terms of the scoping inquiry


which include investigating the US labs and tendering
process since the programme’s inception
1:49 PM - May 8, 2018
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“We’ll be appointing a UK-based medical expert and
gynaecologist to come to Ireland to try and ascertain
answers to these very important questions,” Harris told
reporters.
He said that Phelan would be informed of the progress of
the inquiry.
Dr Scally arrived in Ireland today and will immediately
begin his work. He will report back by the end of next
month, setting out his findings, according to the Department
of Health.
Scandal
Over the past two weeks, more information has continued to
emerge about the controversy whereby women were told
that they had normal smear test results in error. While not a
test for cancer, a smear test that results in an abnormal
reading can warrant further investigations to test for the
presence of cancer.
It has since emerged that more than 1,500 women
who developed cervical cancer did not have their cases
reviewed by CervicalCheck.
The scoping inquiry due to be discussed by ministers today
will independently establish the facts surrounding the
controversy, including details of the non-disclosure to
patients relating to CervicalCheck clinical audits and the
management and level of knowledge of various parties
including, the HSE and the Department of Health.
It will also examine the tendering, contracting, and
operation of the labs contracted by CervicalCheck. Over the
last week, it has emerged that three labs carry out smear test
reviews – two are in the US, while the third is in Ireland.
Separately, there will be an international expert panel
review led by the Royal College of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists, and the British Society for Colposcopy and
Cervical Pathology. This will review the results of screening
tests of all women who have developed cervical cancer who
participated in the screening programme since it was
established.
The Department of Health said this will provide
independent clinical assurance to women about the timing
of their diagnosis and any issues to their treatment and
outcome.
As noted about, it’s intended that the inquiry will report to
Harris in June.
The minister also brought his plans on mandatory open
disclosure to Cabinet today. It is understood it is Harris’
intention to prioritise this, with a view to having it passed
through the Oireachtas as quickly as possible. Harris
believes this is the most practical legislative response to
recent events.
The HSE’s CervicalCheck freephone helpline (open
from 9am to 6pm every day) can be contacted on
1800 45 45 55 (from Ireland) or +353 21 4217612
(outside Ireland). More information can be read
here.

A timeline of the CervicalCheck


controversy... and what will
happen next
The case of one woman’s missed cancer diagnosis has become a
major scandal for the HSE and government.
Apr 30th 2018
Image: Vicky Phelan via GoFundMe
THE CASE OF a terminally ill woman who won her High
Court case against the HSE last week after being given
incorrect smear test results was the first in a series of events
last week that could now lead to the setting up of a statutory
inquiry into the scandal.
Vicky Phelan, who was told she was cancer free in 2011, was
awarded €2.5 million because of the error and her case has
led to a major audit of the National Cervical Screening
programme.
This morning, RTÉ reported that an audit of the
CervicalCheck programme has revealed that 12 of the 206
women whose cases were pinpointed in a review have died,
while around half of this number could have potentially have
benefitted from earlier treatment and were not told about
this diagnostic delay.
Here’s what happened as the scandal unfolded last week,
and what we can expect to happen next.
Wednesday 25 April
Vicky Phelan (43) wins her High Court case and is awarded
€2.5 million.
Speaking to RTÉ Radio One’s Ray D’Arcy Show, she explains
how she went for a routine smear test back in 2011, and was
told her results came back normal. While a smear test does
not diagnose cervical cancer, an abnormal result would lead
to further examinations to test the patient for cancer.
Phelan’s missed results first came to light in 2014 following
an audit of a number of smear tests. In the same year, she
underwent a second smear test which indicated she could
have cervical cancer.
Her doctor wasn’t informed of this diagnosis until 2016, and
she herself wasn’t informed until a further year had passed.
In January of this year, she was given between six and 12
months to live.
“When my gynaecologist told me about this audit, I was still
cancer free… I was very shocked and angry to think that I
had cancer going back to 2011 but at the time I had other
stuff going on,” Phelan says.
“There’s still no cure for my cancer. Unfortunately, I don’t
see the day, unless a breakthrough comes in the next couple
of years, where I’m going to be able to say I’m cured,” she
said.
I think I’m going to have to live with this cancer for the rest
of my life. So, it’s buying me extra time, extra time with my
family. It’s something I’m always going to have to have
treatment for and it’s expensive.
Phelan adds that her case was “unforgivable” and an
“appalling breach of trust”.
Speaking to RTÉ Drive Time, Phelan’s solicitor Cian
O’Carroll suggests that, via the clinical audit, it has emerged
that as many as 15 more women may have had cancer
diagnoses missed because screenings were incorrectly
judged to be normal.
Thursday 26 April
Phelan’s case makes all the headlines the next day, and the
government faces tough questions about the screening
programme.
Minister for Health Simon Harris says he will write to
doctors of women who may have had their cervical cancer
diagnosis missed to ensure they have told their patients of
their result.
Addressing reporters, he says “it’s absolutely essential that
we establish that those doctors told their patients of the
outcomes of those audits”.
We can’t just presume they did, or expect or hope that they
did, we have to make it absolutely sure that they did so that
women can have absolute confidence in relation to that.
Speaking directly in relation to Vicky Phelan, Harris says his
“thoughts are with her in this most horrific and difficult
time”.
“I want her to know, as Minister for Health, I don’t just
apologise in the role that I hold, I want to take action to
make sure that we learn from it as a system,” he said.
During Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil, Tánaiste Simon
Coveney is questioned about the 15 women who potentially
had their cancer diagnosis missed.
He responds: “There is an active piece of work going on now
to establish if there are other women in the same category.
We will have more detail on that when it’s concluded.”
Minister Simon Harris meets with HSE director general
Tony O’Brien, and they agree that an international peer
review of the CervicalCheck programme would be
undertaken “in order to ensure ongoing confidence in the
programme” as a “matter of urgency”.
Friday 27 April
The HSE says that more than 200 cervical smear results
should have resulted in earlier intervention.
Since 2008, 1,482 cases of cervical cancer have been notified
to the CervicalCheck, Ireland’s national cervical screening
programme.
However, a review was warranted in 442 cases. Of these,
206 reviews suggested a different result that would have
“recommended an investigation to occur at an earlier stage”,
the HSE says.
Harris says that a senior team has been sent in to ensure
women have been told the result of their smear reviews and
that a helpline (1800 454 555) will be set up to help
answer women’s questions.
“Like the rest of the country when I heard Vicky on the steps
of the courts say that she wanted to see some good come out
of her horrific situation I took a number of steps,” he tells
RTÉ Six One News.
Women who are watching this programme tonight, who
have cervical cancer and are worried ‘could I have been told
earlier’, ‘was I not informed’ they will be hearing in the early
days of next week of an appointment to meet with their
clinician.
Saturday 28 April
The helpline opens but is down for the first 90 minutes of
operation in the morning due to a technical issue. Minister
Harris tweets that it’s the “last thing anyone needed”.
Harris says that the State will cover the cost for women, who
are concerned, to have a repeat cervical screening if they
wish to do so.
“Have heard from many women today who have had smear
tests and would like a repeat test to reassure them,” he
tweets. “Am arranging for this facility to be available and the
State will meet the cost of the repeat test. Arrangements on
how this will operate will be outlined next week.”
By 1pm, the helpline has received about 300 calls.
In the evening, CercivalCheck clinical director Dr Gráinne
Flannelly informs the HSE that’s she stepping down from
her position.
She says: “I am sorry that recent events caused distress and
worry to women. I have decided to step aside to allow the
programme to continue it’s important work.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every
one of the doctors, nurses and programme staff of
CervicalCheck for their continued hard work and
commitment towards delivering a first-class service for the
women of Ireland.
The HSE formally thanks Flannelly for her “enormous
dedication, contribution and expert knowledge”.
On the Ray D’Arcy Show on RTÉ One, Phelan is interviewed.
She says that Simon Harris called her to apologise and to
thank her for continuing to encourage women to go to smear
tests, despite her experience with the HSE.
She says: “I said to [Simon Harris] ‘Basically, look – what
has happened to me is awful, but you know, I do believe in
the program, I think that cervical smears do save women’s
lives. What I don’t want to happen is that there will be more
women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer, and I thought
it was important that I come out and say that.’ Because, I
think people would listen to me, rather than the HSE at the
moment.”
Sunday 29 April
The Sunday Independent reports that Phelan was told her
case was one of ten audited in 2014.
“I asked were any women who had been included in the
audit…had any of them died. I was told three,” she says.
Harris, meanwhile, says he does not know how many
women have died as a result of the controversy.
Speaking yesterday afternoon on RTÉ’s The Week in
Politics, Harris says he would learn today if all of the women
affected by failures in the programme had been told.
He also says he will work with the government to avoid
defending any other cases that may be similar to Phelan’s
case in court.
By close of play yesterday, the HSE helpline has received
over 2,000 calls.
It says the review has been challenging as it involves
verifying certain information from 13 sites around the
country.
The HSE adds that all the women affected will be notified by
today about their potential missed diagnosis.
What’s next?
Both the HSE and the minister have said the women
affected will be notified as soon as possible. Women
concerned following the scandal will be able to avail of a
smear test, and the State will meet the cost.
Speaking today, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he is “very
angry” that women were not told earlier about their smear
tests being reviewed.
The Taoiseach also confirmed that an inquiry into
the scandal will take place but stressed that “cancer
screening works”.

http://www.thejournal.ie/cervical-check-timeline-3985728-
Apr2018/

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar outlines response


to Cervical Check controversy
Apr 30, 2018
TheJournal.ie is an Irish news website that invites its users to shape the news agenda. Read, share and
shape the day’s stories as they happen, from Ireland, the world and the web.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQjP9xhczQI

Image: Screenshot of PDF of note released by Government.

The following is the redacted version of a briefing note


about Vicky Phelan’s High Court case sent to Minister for
Health Simon Harris on April 16th. It was released by the
Government on May 1st.
Update - 9.08pm: 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.

Watch the Dáil debate below

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.
RTÉ News

@rtenews

Health Minister says more than 208 women may have


been affected by cervical cancer controversy
6:57 PM - May 1, 2018

 16

 29 people are talking about this
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Reacting to the news Sinn Féin's health spokesperson Louise


O'Reilly said it was "outrageous" that the scale of the issue
was not yet known.
"There are women watching us this evening that are not
aware of their own medical records - that is outrageous."
Fianna Fáil health spokesperson Stephen Donnelly went on to
describe evenst as an "outrage".
"What we have seen so far is nothing short of an outrage ...
and it has led to widespread fear and anger across Ireland."
Labour's Alan Kelly says the Minister has dropped a
bombshell with the news.
Mr Kelly said: "What is the number of cases that have now not
been audited? And in your speech, you haven't told us.

This is a bombshell.

"What volume of women have not had their cases audited?"


Update 5.56pm: The Health Minister Simon Harris is making
a statement in the Dáil on the CervicalCheck scandal in the
next hour.
The Department of Health has released the briefing note given
to Simon Harris before Vicky Phelan's case went to court.
It says not telling her about the audit of her cancer test was
not a patient safety issue.

3.09pm: CervicalCheck memo: Dept was told Vicky


Phelan case was not 'a patient safety incident'The
Government has published a briefing note sent to Health
Minister Simon Harris concerning the Vicky Phelan
CervicalCheck case.
The note was sent to the minister on April 16, before the case
was heard at the High Court.
It says "that publicity around the case and/or settlement is
likely".
The National Screening Service and Jerome Coffey, Head of
the National Cancer Control Programme, advised the
Department of Health in writing that "they do not consider this
to be a patient safety incident but rather a reflection of the
known limitations of the current screening test".
According to the memo, the current CervicalCheck testing
method has "low sensitivity" of 60%-75% which means that it
"produces a not insignificant number of false negative results",
saying the "known limitation" is one of the reasons women are
screened regularly.
It says that CervicalCheck carried out a review of Ms Phelan's
case in 2014, but adds: "At the time in 2014, the outcomes of
clinical cancer audits were used by CervicalCheck for
education and training purposes only."

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

Link above seems to have stopped working - here it is


http://
health.gov.ie/wp-content/upl
oads/2018/05/0864_001.pdf

3:16 PM - May 1, 2018
• 

• 
 See Sean Defoe's other Tweets
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Ms Phelan settled her case against a US lab last week, after


being wrongly informed in 2011 that she had the all clear.
Three years later, a review found the results were incorrect.
She was diagnosed with cervical cancer around the same
time, but she only found out about that review last year.

Update 2.59pm: Women suing the State over cervical cancer


misdiagnoses will not be dragged through the courts, the Dáil
has heard.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he has asked Attorney General
Seamus Woulfe to settle cases quickly without legal actions,
writes Juno McEnroe.
The Cabinet met this morning and discussed the fall-out from
the Vickie Phelan case and the fact that three quarters of 208
women with cancer were not told of a delayed diagnosis.
Ms Phelan was forced to go to court where her case was
settled but this was after the Government were aware of her
situation.
Facing Dáil questions, Mr Varadkar said that it would be
months rather than years before an inquiry would finish its
work into the cancer tests scandal.
He also ruled out for the moment a commission of inquiry
looking into the failed communications and inaccurate tests
controversy as it would take too long and involve lawyers.
However, Labour's Brendan Howlin warned that HIQA may
have limited powers during its investigation, including making
adverse findings.
Mr Varadkar also told the Dáil that, as a former minister for
health, he was not aware of patient safety issues around
cervical cancer checks or any audits of such.
The Taoiseach has also said he will not fire HSE boss Tony
O'Brien, saying there is no proof that sending the smear tests
abroad for examination meant they were any less accurate
than if they had been examined here.
Mr Varadkar said: "The basis on which you've called for the
dismissal of Tony O'Brien is based on an assertion that the
decision to outsource these tests to the US in 2008 somehow
cost lives.
"I explained why that is not yet supported by the facts and I
think everyone, even Tony O'Brien, deserves a fair hearing
before they are condemned."
Health Minister Simon Harris has later today agreed to take
questions over Ms Phelan's case and the patients who were
not told about inaccurate tests.
He will also publish documents, redacted, given to him in the
lead-up to Ms Phelan's court case earlier this year and what
advice was given about patient safety.
2.33pm: Simon Harris answers questions surrounding
CervicalCheck smear test controversy
Minister for Health Simon Harris is answering questions in the
Dáil surrounding the CervicalCheck smear test controversy.
The Department of Health is also expected to publish a memo
that was sent to the Minister three days before Vicky Phelan’s
High Court case over her treatment.
The memo reportedly indicated women were not automatically
being given the results of their smear audits.
The Health Minister is due to clarify what he was told before
the situation became public knowledge.
The Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald says the scandal
means the head of the HSE Tony O'Brien should resign.
She said: "I think his position is untenable, I think he should
step aside and if heis not prepared to do that I think he should
be sacked."

Mary Lou McDonald.

Update 1.15pm: The Director General of the HSE Tony


O'Brien said there was no question of anyone in the Cervical
Check programme seeking to withhold information about
cancer diagnoses.
He also said that he has not given any consideration to
stepping down.
Tony O'Brien

Tony O'Brien says the clinical review of cases was triggered


by cases of cancer. Tony O'Brien told RTE's Sean O'Rourke
that it is an issue of concern and disappointment that he
wasn't informed of Vicky Phelan's case, but this is secondary
to the work of the serious management team, dealing with
cases and restoring confidence in the Cervical Check
programme. Hea said: "That's kind of secondary to the bigger
issue now, which is the crisis of confidence which has
ensued."
Clarifying what he meant by secondary, he said "not for
today".
Mr O'Brien added that a case management will be undertaken
to find out why Vicky Phelan's case was not escalated in the
way it should have been. He said the fact that he used to be
the director of Cervical Check, makes this quite personal for
him.
By international benchmarks, he said, the labs were
performing as they should be and were subject to high quality
standards. In addition, he added that the US labs are only
dealing with Irish patients and Irish smear tests are not being
mixed in with a greater cohort of US patients, who are tested
yearly.
The smear test is not, he stressed, a diagnostic test but a
screening one and there is no laboratory in the world that can
provide 100% accuracy on that type of cytology.
"The reality is that the cytology test is not 100% effective, it
has a level of assurance which is well below 100%. All of the
literature, all of the information given to anyone who uses the
Cervical Check programme makes it clear and the term that's
often used about women getting the all clear, no one gets the
all clear, either an abnormality is detected or it's not," he said.
He explained that liability arising from an error, outside the
exceptional margin of error, would lie with the laboratory. Mr
O'Brien said the HSE is working hard to restore confidence in
the programme.
This included, he said, new clinical governance and the
establishment of a helpline to offer reassurance to women.
Anyone, he said, that wanted their case to be re-examined
would be accommodated. He said that explanations from
former Clinical Director of Cervical Check Professor Grainne
Flannelly, while not satisfactory, were the truth.
"She was telling the truth that while she had engaged in a
process which sought to have women informed, there was a
missing link in that process," he said, "in that the central
programme office did not have verification that individual
women had been provided with that information'.
He said she stood down because she is deeply committed to
the programme and wanted to help restore confidence in it. Mr
O'Brien said there wouldn't be a programme without her
commitment over the last number of years. He also said that
he spoke to Professor Flannelly at length before she
announced her resignation, asking her to consider carefully
her decision.
He also spoke of being in favour for a mandatory duty of
candour being enshrined in law.
Meanwhile, a patient advocacy group says the CervicalCheck
scandal has shown we have gone backwards in terms of
Open Disclosure.
Several inquiries are due to take place into how 17 women
died who had been screened for cervical cancer.
Donal Buggy, Irish Cancer Society

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.

It's not acceptable. We are absolutely horrified and we're


disappointed because we're gone backwards in a sense.

She described the impact on the women who have been in


touch with Patient Focus.
"Both of those were in their late 30s-early 40s and both of
those had hysterectomies so you know, the choice is taken
away from them and that's huge if you haven't completed your
family."
A HIQA investigation will now take place – with the terms of
reference due in around two weeks.
A clinical investigation will also take place, but will that be
enough to restore confidence in cancer screening
programmes?
Donal Buggy from the Irish Cancer Society says while they
have no specific concerns about breast check and the Bowel
screen programme – there will need to be changes.
"We would like to see them internationally benchmarked
against best practice and that information to be made publicly
available on an annualised basis as part of this review in order
that we can have the confidence that our screening services in
Ireland are as good as the screening services anywhere else
in the world.
"And that's the minimum that we should expect."
Update 1pm: Elaine Loughlin, Political Correspondent
Sinn Féin president Mary-Lou McDonald has called on HSE
director general Tony O'Brien to resign in the wake of the
CervicalCheck scandal.
The Dáil is due to discuss the failures in cervical screenings
this afternoon after emerged that 17 women who initially
received incorrect results have since died. their cause of
death is as yet unconfirmed.
The HSE have also confirmed that at least 208 women who
have been since diagnosed with cervical cancer were initially
told their tests were negative.
Speaking outside Leinster House, Ms McDonald said she
"doesn't believe for a second" that a "a full appreciation of the
scale" of the the failings within CervicalCheck.
She said Tony O'Brien was told "categorically" that the
outsourcing of smear tests to the US had led to cases being
missed.
"He was told this by the very committee that had responsibility
for quality assurance, Tony O'Brien, from what I can ascertain,
ignored that advice up to and including a scenario where the
committee charged with quality assurance stepped aside, now
that's quite and astonishing turn of events," she said.
"Tony O'Brien presides over the HSE an organisation, and let
it be said with the backing of Government, that has
aggressively pursued women though the courts in
circumstances where they knew that fault was on the side of
the State and the HSE itself and yet he has seen fit to preside
over all of that.
"My view is that Tony O'Brien's position is untenable, I don't
believe he has credibly led the HSE," said Ms McDonald.
Update 12pm: Fianna Fáil have called for a memo given to
health minister Simon Harris about cancer patient Vickie
Phelan's case to be published in full and for a Dáil debate on
the tests scandal.
Speaking in Leinster House this morning, health spokesman
Stephen Donnelly said he had met the minister and officials
but that the five-page memo was redacted.
Fianna Fáil want the memo published.

Fianna Fáil's Stephen Donnelly.

Mr Donnelly was highly critical of a the culture in the Health


Service Executive which he said was “rotten” and “quite
possibly sinister”.
But he said the focus this week on the cervical cancer
controversy must be on the women and their families and in
particular those who were not told about their false negative
cancer tests.

We now know sadly some of them are deceased. In the first


instance, the focus must be on engaging with those women,
with those families, providing support, providing counselling
where needed.

There was also a need to look at how the information had


been disseminated, it was added.
He said after meeting Minister Harris this morning that they
had looked at the memo of the information given to Mr Harris
on April 16, just days before Ms Phelan's case went to court.
He said there were important questions that needed to be
asked such why women were not told of the false negative
test results, who took that decision within the HSE and why
clinicians had not passed on information to patients.
The party want to know who ultimately made a decision to
withhold the information for years.
But Mr Donnelly also had some tough words for the HSE,
adding that there was a culture of gagging orders and not
passing on clinician information.
“There is a culture in parts of the HSE which I believe is
rotten, is potentially quite sinister and has not served the
public well,” he said.
- Juno McEnroe

Vicky Phelan.

Update 10.45am: Doctors will have to inform patients of


screening programme problems under proposed Patient
Safety Bill
Doctors will have to inform patients of problems with
screening programmes – under a proposed Patient Safety Bill.
The Health Minister Simon Harris says mandatory open
disclosure will apply for serious reportable incidents –
including screening.
162 women with Cervical Cancer were not told they were part
of a review of the Cervical Check programme, and could have
benefited from earlier intervention.
Andrew Jordan from the National Association of GPs says
patients deserve to be told everything about their care.
He said: "We have a responsibility to people, if somebody has
a terminal diagnosis we owe them, we have a responsibility,
they have to put their affairs in order, they may need to make
a will.
"If you don't inform the patient you may deny them that
opportunity, so you haven't got the right not to disclose."

Simon Harris.

It is also being reported that a memo given to Health Minister


Simon Harris about the cervical cancer scandal on April 16
stated women were being told about the missed diagnoses.
There have been calls for Mr Harris to publish the memo in
the Dáil this afternoon.
According to Independent.ie the memo referred to Vicky
Phelan's case and is unlikely to be published because it
contains Ms Phelan's personal information.
Earlier: Cabinet to approve statutory investigation into
CervicalCheck scandal this morning
The cabinet will approve a statutory investigation into the
CervicalCheck scandal this morning.
The Minister for Health wants HIQA to investigate why 162
women were not told their smear tests were being reviewed.
208 women had their smear tests audited but just 46 of those
were informed - meaning the remainder did not know there
might be a problem with their cancer check.
17 women who were part of the review died.

Vicky Phelan.

The figures came to light after terminally ill Vicky Phelan


settled a case last week after having her own diagnosis
delayed, leading to her cancer being more developed when
she learned of it.
Health watchdog HIQA is now being asked to carry out a root
and branch review of the CervicalCheck programme.
It will look at communication with patients and quality
assurance of the tests carried out.
The screening programme here will be compared with
international best standards and HIQA will be asked to look at
any implications for other cancer screening programmes.
An expert panel will also be set up to offer the women
involved an independent clinical review and provide them with
any supports needed.
Cabinet is expected to sign off on the plan this morning.
Next week Simon Harris will bring forward proposals to make
it mandatory for doctors to have to tell patients about serious
reportable events affecting them.
He believes affected women should get an independent
review.
He said: "I think it is really important that women who have
been impacted by this have an opportunity to have an
independent clinical review probably with clinicians from
abroad who can advise them of their case, all of that facts
around it and indeed review their case.
"I then want that independent clinical expert panel to inform
HIQA's investigation and the work of the international peer
review group."
The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists says
patients need to be informed of all results, including those of
any reviews.
It is also encouraging women to continue having smear tests
and is working to restore public confidence in the screening
programme.
Dr Cliona Murphy, the Institute's Chair and Consultant
Obstetrician at the Coombe hospital says screening is
necessary.
She said: "It is important to remember that screening is a very
important public health initiative and over the last ten years
CervicalCheck has saved many lives.

"We would have expected maybe five times more women to


die from cervical cancer if we did not have the screening
programme."
Government has published a briefing note sent to Health Minister Simon Harris concerning the Vicky
Phelan CervicalCheck case. The note was sent to the minister on April 16, before the case was heard at
the High Court.

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.

"These smears have been outsourced for years, I presume


the reason was cost, and at the time CervicalCheck was set
up there were concerns raised."

Harney defends HSE decision to send smear tests abroad


19/11/2007

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

At the start of the week it was revealed that an audit by


CervicalCheck - the national screening programme - of 1,482
women diagnosed with cervical cancer since 2008 had found
potential errors in 208 cases, as tests showed no abnormality
when they should have been given a cancer warning.
The majority of the 208 women - 162 - were not initially told of
the outcome of the audit. Of the 208, 17 have since died.
It has since emerged that a further 1,518 women with the
cancer in the same period have not been audited but health
chiefs stress the number affected by potential errors in this
group is likely to be lower.
Senior health figures remained unable to give numbers on
Thursday for the second group on how many women have
since been audited, found to have potential test errors or
contacted regarding this but said this work is ongoing.
Mr Buggy said: "I am here this morning following a week of
confusion, concern, frustration and fear for very many women
right around Ireland.
"There has been significant mixed messaging and that's
something I feel we need to get right and needs to stop
today."

Professor Donal Brennan, Dr Jerome Coffey and Chief Medical Officer Dr


Tony Holohan from the Health Service Executive (HSE) clinical expert panel.
Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire

He said he wanted clarity for the 3,000 women diagnosed with


cervical cancer in the past 10 years and for women involved in
the screening programme who had been given negative
results.
"No women will be reassured by an investigation, a
commission or a political conversation this weekend. They
need to have clear information."
Under questioning, Dr Holohan agreed that the screening
programme was 99% reliable, with National Cancer Control
Programme director Dr Jerome Coffey saying there is a "tiny
proportion" of false negatives - less than one in 100.
Dr Holohan said: "The evidence that we have before us is not
evidence of a clinical failure in relation to the programme.
"It's not evidence that people who have been through the
programme can have less confidence in what the programme
has said about their result."
He said people with normal smears have no need for an
emergency repeat test but will be given one after contact with
their GP if wished.
Meanwhile, Health Service Executive director-general Tony
O'Brien is to take temporary leave of absence from the board
of a US company he joined earlier this year.

Tony O'Brien

In the Dail, deputy prime minister Joan Burton confronted


Health Minister Simon Harris.
She said: "At a time when women are really, really hurting ...
to most women this is just extraordinary that the CEO would
be allowed by you as minister or the previous minister to take
a second lucrative appointment."
Mr Harris said the contract allowed the health service chief,
who has faced calls to step down immediately ahead of his
planned contract end in summer, to take up employment,
where the minister sanctions it, if for less than five hours a
month.
He added: "Quite rightly, considering the very important issues
you highlight for women's health and the need for him to focus
on that absolutely exclusively for the remaining few weeks of
his term, he has appropriately taken a leave of absence."
Tanaiste Simon Coveney said Mr O'Brien would be focused
on contributing in a positive manner to the work needed to put
the problems right.
"I think that is the appropriate course of action."
PA

Earlier: Simon Coveney speaks to man whose


wife died after getting incorrect smear tests
results
By Elaine Loughlin
Latest 1.10pm: Simon Coveney speaks to man whose wife
died after getting incorrect smear tests results
Tánaiste Simon Coveney has spoken to the husband of one of
the 17 women who died after receiving false negative smear
tests results.
Describing the controversy as "a disgraceful breach of trust
between thousands of women and the State" Mr Coveney told
the Dáil he had been contacted by the widower this morning
who he said is "is very angry".
"And I don't blame him. He has been contacted by the HSE
but he needs a more detailed meeting and that is happening
this evening."
Fianna Fáil deputy leader Dara Calleary pointed out that just
two of the 17 women who who died after getting clear smear
tests were not told of different results found in an audit before
their death.
He said it has now been eight days since the CervicalCheck
scandal emerged through Vicky Phelan's case however, 26
women involved have yet to be contacted and thousands of
women who rang a helpline have yet to receive a call back.
Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Calleary said there is "worry, concern
and anger across the county" however, there is still "no sense
of urgency" in providing answers.
Calling on HSE director general to resign, Sinn Fein's Pearse
Doherty said: "Either someone is held to account or the usual
pattern of unaccountability continues year after year, scandal
after scandal and this simply can't happen.

"Women some of whom are cancer patients, some of whom


are dead or dying were denied information about their health
because of the failures of those responsible in our health
service."

He added: "We don't need an inquiry to know that 15 women


went to their graves without that information.
"People have died without the information they were entitled
to," he said.
But Mr Coveney argued that Mr O'Brien only has 12 weeks left
in his contract and suggested it would be better for him to
focus on "providing as much information as possible and
putting systems in place that can cooperate fully with the
independent investigation."
"Rather than actually looking for heads we are trying to look
for the truth and establish facts."
He said the departure of Mr O'Brien "of course it would give
the impression of immediate accountability" the facts must be
ascertained and Mr O'Brien has committed to help in that
process.
The Tánaiste confirmed that Mr O'Brien is to take a leave of
absence from the board of a US healthcare company to focus
on the cancer scandal.

Mr Coveney said: "Everybody agrees now that there needs to


be a statutory inquiry into this issue, it needs to be as
transparent and as public as possible but we do need a
scoping exercise to make sure that we have a deeper
understanding of the facts and what transpired."
He said this scoping exercise which hopefully can be
completed by the end of next month would allow for an
appropriate terms of reference to be put in place.
9am: Vicky Phelan calls for 'urgent' public Commission of
Investigation into CervicalSmear scandal
Vicky Phelan has called for a Commission of Investigation to
be held into the CervicalSmear scandal that is "urgent and
prompt" but also public.
In a Tweet addressed to Leo Varadkar, Simon Harris and RTE
1's Morning Ireland programme, Ms Phelan said: "As the
woman who exposed this scandal, I want to see a
Commission of Investigation that is both urgent and prompt
but also public. Too much has already happened behind
closed doors."

Vicky Phelan
@PhelanVicky

@SimonHarrisTD @campaignforleo @morningireland As


the woman who exposed this scandal, I want to see a
Commission of Investigation that is both urgent and
prompt but also PUBLIC. Too much has already
happened behind closed doors. #CervicalCheckScandal

Deirdre Burke
@deirdremburke

ICCL call for prompt and public CervicalCheck investigation via


@RTENewsNow #CervicalCheckScandal
https://www.
rte.ie/news/politics/
2018/0503/959929-cervicalcheck-reax/

8:36 AM - May 3, 2018

 319

 187 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy

She went on to call for the resignation of HSE boss Tony


O'Brien, who she said had shown "nothing but arrogance" and
who was "more concerned with defending the indefensible
than doing the right thing".

Vicky Phelan
@PhelanVicky

@SimonHarrisTD @campaignforleo @morningireland As


the woman who exposed this scandal, I want to see a
Commission of Investigation that is both urgent and
prompt but also PUBLIC. Too much has already
happened behind closed doors. #CervicalCheckScandal

Deirdre Burke
@deirdremburke

ICCL call for prompt and public CervicalCheck investigation via


@RTENewsNow #CervicalCheckScandal
https://www.
rte.ie/news/politics/
2018/0503/959929-cervicalcheck-reax/

8:36 AM - May 3, 2018
• 
 319
• 
 187 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy

Ms Phelan brought the controversy to light when she launched


legal proceedings in the High Court after it emerged her
smear test which showed no abnormalities was later found to
be incorrect.
8.30am: Government to make decision on inquiry into
CervicalSmear scandal
The Government is due to make a decision on an of inquiry
into the CervicalCheck scandal.
It's expected a preliminary scoping inquiry will take place first
to get immediate answers, potentially followed by a
Commission of Investigation, into the cervical smear
controversy. An international expert is likely to lead the
inquiry.

The Minister for Health Simon Harris consulted with other


political parties last night after officials from the Department of
Health, the HSE and CervicalCheck addressed an Oireachtas
committee yesterday.
There was some dispute among officials as to how successful
the screening programme is.
There was a general consensus among opposition TDs that a
HIQA inquiry wouldn't be good enough, but also fears that a
Commission of Investigation could take years to complete.

The HSE continues to make contact with women affected by


the controversy, including those who had audits carried out on
their smear tests. The HSE will also examine the cases of at
least 1,500 other women whose cases were not audited.

Simon Harris TD
Verified account

@SimonHarrisTD
Follow
More
Foll ow @SimonHarrisTD

Every woman who has had a cervical


cancer diagnosis in Ireland since
screening began in 2008 will now
have screening history reviewed by a
team of cytologists from UK’s Royal
College of Obstetricians &
Gynecologists and this will conclude
by the end of this month
#cervicalcheck
This is a small consolation to those that are still
alive. I am appalled and quite frankly, scared by
the way women are being treated in Ireland
currently #cervicalcheck

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.

He had been expecting the call, but half-hoping it would never


come. “I’m ringing in relation to your late wife, Irene,” said a
woman in a “slightly trembling” voice. “It’s to do with the audit
of cervical cancer tests.”
“Was she one of the 17?” Teap asked the woman who, he later
learnt, was an HSE business manager. When she replied yes,
he…

Many young women are not attending smear tests because


they are embarrassed about their bodies, a cancer charity has
warned.
Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust said it was concerned that body
image issues, including perception of what is "normal," could
be putting women’s lives in danger.
One in four eligible women (aged 25-64) do not currently take
up their invitation for a smear test, rising to one in three
among 25-29 year olds.
It is even as high as one in two in some areas of the UK.

The charity conducted a survey which found that more than a


third of women (35%) are failing to get tested because of their
body shape, while 34% were worried about the appearance of
their vulva.
Concerns over smelling "normally" (38%) were also a factor.
The poll of women aged between 25 and 35 also found a third
(31%) admitted they would not go if they had not waxed or
shaved their bikini area.
But despite low screening attendance, almost every woman
(94%) said they would have a free test to prevent cancer if
one was available.
The charity is releasing the data at the start of Cervical
Cancer Prevention Week and as it launches its smear test
campaign #SmearForSmear.
It is also concerned that not enough is being done to increase
attendance, with a third of local authorities and Clinical
Commissioning Groups in England not having done so in the
last year.
Lindsay was diagnosed with cervical cancer at 29 after
ignoring invitations for a smear test.
She said: "I was too busy with a baby and a small child,
working, and I didn’t like the thought of having to get naked in
front of anyone I didn’t know.
"I don’t want other women to have to go through what I
experienced, diagnosis and treatment was awful.
"I needed a radical hysterectomy and still struggle with some
side effects of treatment today.
"Please don’t put off your smear test, the alternative is so
much worse."
The charity’s chief executive, Robert Music, said: "Smear tests
prevent 75% of cervical cancers so it is a big worry that so
many young women, those who are most at risk of the
disease, are unaware of the importance of attending.
"It is of further concern that body worries are contributing to
non-attendance.
"Please don’t let unhappiness or uncertainty about your body
stop you from attending what could be a life-saving test.
"Nurses are professionals who carry out millions of tests every
year, they can play a big part in ensuring women are
comfortable."
Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women under
35, yet the poll of 2,017 women found three out of five (61%)
were unaware they were in the most at-risk age group for the
disease.
Just under 1,000 women die from cervical cancer every year
in the UK.
Cancer minister Steve Brine said: "We must all take a stand
against cancer, that’s why I’m pleased to support this
campaign so we can continue to see cancer survival rates
improve and more cases prevented.

"Lives can be saved if women book an appointment for


cervical screening when invited.

A hair salon in Dublin is offering women a free blow dry if they


get a smear test.
Gillian Lee who owns Mane Envy Hair in Baldoyle says she
wants to promote free cervical checks and will be honouring
the promotion for a year.
"I felt that as a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend, and as a
woman, I had to do something to try and give others like me
an incentive to make that smear test appointment,” said
Gillian.
"I've got nearly 7,000 women on my social media page and
1,000 on Instagram, so I feel I've got an obligation to try to do
good and raise awareness when I can."

Gillian's was inspired by her mother's experience of smear


tests to offer the incentive.
"Back in 2012, my own mother underwent an emergency
hysterectomy following a series of abnormalities which
showed up on her smear tests leading to minor surgery and
then major surgery. I believe she’s here and healthy today
because she went for her free routine smear tests.
"In fact, many women are alive today because of this
wonderful free service and yet strangely some, including
myself, don’t make the time to attend for their five-minute life
saver. I want to appeal to women to please make that call
today."

To avail of the offer, women must produce proof they have


had a smear, whether it is a doctors note, confirmation email
or text.
health minister ahead of Vicky Phelan’s case coming before the High Court suggested he
acknowledge her . A BRIEFING note prepared for the health ... Ms Phelan ...
Who is the doctor leading
the scoping inquiry into
the cervical cancer
screening scandal and
what will he be
examining?

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?

Dr Scally has also asked an international expert in


women's health, Dr Karin Denton, Consultant in Cellular
Pathology North Bristol NHS Trust and previously
Regional Head of Screening Quality Assurance Public
Health England, to provide assistance in the review.
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/who-is-the-
doctor-leading-the-scoping-inquiry-into-the-cervical-cancer-
screening-scandal-and-what-will-he-be-examining-
36886076.html
Three women whose
cases are similar to Vicky
Phelan have died - state
claims agency confirms

Vicky Phelan who received incorrect smear test results in 2011


and was subsequently diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2014
Cormac McQuinn Political Correspondent
May 8 2018
THREE women whose cases are the subject of legal action similar to Vicky
Phelan’s have died, the State Claims Agency (SCA) has said.

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.

In any such cases it will pursue other options including mediation or


settlement.

Fine Gael Senator Kieran O’Donnell asked Mr Breen if any of the women
whose cases are similar to Ms Phelan’s are deceased.

Mr Breen confirmed that three have died.

I was overwhelmed with


anger' - husband of mum
who died from cervical
cancer not knowing about
incorrect smear results
Irene Teap and husband Stephen try on wigs after her hair fell out

THE widower of a young mum who died from cervical


cancer after two incorrect smear test results has said he
was "overwhelmed with anger" when he found out what
had happened.
Mother-of-two Irene Teap passed away aged 35 on June
26 last year.
Her husband Stephen, who lives in Carrigaline in Cork,
said she asked specialists ‘at least 100 times’ why the
cancer never showed up on her smear tests in 2010 or
2013.
Stephen said he was called by the HSE last week to be
informed that she was one of 17 women who died of
cervical cancer not knowing that their smear test results
had been incorrect.
Speaking about the distressing phone call on the Ray
D'Arcy Show on RTE 1 today, he said: "I was absolutely
furious, I just was raging on the phone, I was
overwhelmed with anger.
"I couldn't believe the way I was contacted."
Stephen met with Irene's consultant last Thursday and he
confirmed that pre-cancerous cells were detected in her
2010 audited test results, cancer was also detected in her
audited 2013 smear test results.
Her audited results were sent to her consultant on July 3
last year, three weeks before she died but they were never
shared with her.
Irene Teap died last July after an incorrect result.
Stephen also explained that he want to highlight what
happened to his wife so that people know the people
affected by the controversy and also so their young sons,
Oscar (5) and Noah (3), would know he fought for
accountability.
He said: "You need to be in situation of fight, you have to
fight. If you’re going to think is the end near, or if it’s all
over now, you’re not fighting. Doubts do come into your
head but you have to push them out.
"There’s only one reason I made this story public. I didn’t
want to be one of the 17.

"There’s two little boys at the end of this, and a loving


mum at the end of this."
He said that Irene noticed bleeding around five weeks
after she gave birth to the couple's second son, Noah in
2015.
She was told that she was still recovering from childbirth
and she was still recovering from childbirth. 18 weeks later
her GP referred her to a specialist again, where she was
diagnosed with stage 2b cervical cancer.
Stephen recalled: "On Monday she gets a call asking to
come in tomorrow, but we said we were going on holidays.
The consultant said no, you really have to come in.
"She was brought in on Tuesday and this is where they sat
us down and said sorry to say but you have cervical
cancer...
"She asked her doctors, 'How the hell did my smears not
pick them up?'
"The consultant said it doesn’t pick them all up, there’s
room for error.
“When I first heard about it, (the CervicalCheck
controversy), that question was doing circles in my mind. I
could hear Irene asking why it wasn’t picked up.”
Stephen also said that he does not have faith in the HSE to
resolve the issue.

He said: "Clearly no one has control over this situation,


the Government don't, the HSE don't."
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/i-was-
overwhelmed-with-anger-husband-of-mum-who-died-from-
cervical-cancer-not-knowing-about-incorrect-smear-results-
36886409.html

Heads may roll but it's important they're the


right heads' - Varadkar says people might get
fired over cervical smear scandal
John Downing
May 8 2018

2
Simon Harris and Leo Varadkar

TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has said that people deemed


responsible for shortcomings in the cancer smear test
debacle may lose their jobs.
Mr Varadkar is again under pressure for shortcomings in
the Government response to the 14-day-old scandal.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said thousands of
women are still awaiting a callback from the special help
line.
He said the Taoiseach has promised a new smear test free
of charge to women who wanted it – but that doctors are
not up to date on how this would work.
Mr Martin claims the responses appear panicked and not
thought through.
“It’s a bit like you’re making it up as you go along,” the
Fianna Fáil leader said.

Tony O'Brien Director General of the Health Service Executive.


Photo: PA Wire
Sinn Féin leader, Mary Lou McDonald, repeated her call
for HSE director general Tony O’Brien to be removed from
his post. She said the way the political established “circled
the wagons” to defend Mr O’Brien was shameful.
The Taoiseach repeated his pledge for a free smear test for
all women who want it. He said there will be a redress
scheme but first there must inquiries to establish the facts
- and the same principle applied to people losing their
jobs.
“It may be the case that more heads will roll in the period
ahead. But it’s important that they are the right heads,” Mr
Varadkar said.
Referring to Tony O’Brien, the Taoiseach argued that this
should not be about any one man - it should be about the
thousands of women.
“Mr O’Brien has about eight weeks to serve and his focus
should be on putting things right in that time,” the
Taoiseach said.

Mr Varadkar said advertisements will be placed seeking a


new director general of the Health Service Executive in the
coming weeks.
As we all know, Fine Gael (and their little helpers Fianna Fáil) want to privatize
EVERYTHING, so don't be one bit surprised if what's happening across the water has
them drooling. And guess who would be favourite to win any policing contract? The man
who already owns the company (gifted to him) that erects barriers around Dáil Éireann to
keep peaceful protesters away from the corrupt dosshouse.
(As Bryan Inglis said in his post that we shared "get ready for it here"
A friend of mine who works for a medical company had reason to call to Quest
Diagnostics Ireland, the company at the centre of the cervical smear testing scandal
today and was shocked to discover that they did not answer their door. When he tried
calling them on (01) 6090800 all he got was an answering machine. This company are
based in Block 1, Unit 10. Northwood Court in Santry, Dublin 9. But they may already be
gone? Quest have been fined BILLIONS in the United States for serious crimes including
fraud and bribery. It is a scandal and a tragedy that this country has been doing business
with this company since 2008. Why did Mary Harney when she was Health minister do
business with this rotten outfit? She is very silent on the testing scandal, but has no
problem pocketing a large undeserved pension of €116,000. The Health Ministers who
succeeded her, namely James Reilly, Leo Varadkar and Simon Harris are just as guilty of
negligence. Will any of these incompetent bastards suffer? No they won'
They should rounded up n charged with curruption d lot of them they 'll get their pensions n
more n laugh at us d low life s

Scally to be 'frank and


forthright' in
CervicalCheck
investigation
Updated / Tuesday, 8 May 2018

Dr Gabriel Scally will lead the initial inquiry into the CervicalCheck
controversy

The head of an initial inquiry into the CervicalCheck


controversy has said that he will be "frank and
forthright" in his investigation.
Dr Gabriel Scally said that his investigation will be
independent of the Government and the HSE and
from his experience, it is possible to get to the bottom
of medical failures.
However, he said that it may not be possible for the
inquiry to attribute blame, and said that if serious
problems are found, he will be pointing to them.
Dr Scally is President of the Epidemiology and Public
Health section of the Royal Society of Medicine, and
is Chair of the Soil Association in the UK.
He was speaking after the Terms of Reference into
the inquiry were published by the Department of
Health.

The inquiry will examine details of the non-disclosure


of information to Vicky Phelan, relating to the audit
carried out following her diagnosis of cervical cancer
in July 2014.
It will also examine the apparent widespread practice
of non-disclosure to patients relating to
CervicalCheck audits.
The inquiry will look at the management and level of
knowledge of various parties including, but not limited
to the Health Service Executive, the Department of
Health or other public authorities in relation to the
controversy.

Cervical Check inquiry - Who is Dr Gabriel


Scally?
Nearly 5,000 women still waiting for call back
over CervicalCheck
What is the CervicalCheck controversy about?
The manner and means through which the relevant
facts were shared, escalated, reported and
communicated will also be included in the inquiry and
it will engage directly with Ms Phelan and any other
woman affected or her next of kin, who may wish to
have an input.
All aspects of CervicalCheck, the information
provided by CervicalCheck to those receiving the
service, the policy of open disclosure not being
implemented, as well as the tendering
and contracting of cytology laboratory services will be
included in the inquiry.
Other screening programmes operated by the
National Screening Service particularly in relation to
quality assurance and clinical audit, open disclosure
and governance will also be examined.
The inquiry will incorporate further elements if
identified and will issue discrete reports or findings on
particular matters if it is in a position to do so and
provide a progress update in the first week of June.
A report to the Minister for Health Simon Harris will
be given by the end of June setting out issues and
recommendations to be addressed by means of a
Commission of Investigation.
The minister said that Dr Scally will be assisted by Dr
Karin Denton.
Almost two weeks after Vicky Phelan's case came to
light, its ramifications continue to be debated in the
political sphere.
Ms Phelan, a Limerick mother-of-two, was diagnosed
with cancer three years after her smear test results of
2011 were incorrectly reported as clear.
She now has terminal cancer.
More than 200 other women diagnosed with cancer
may have missed out on earlier medical intervention
and were not told about the clinical audit.
The HSE has said that, to date, hospitals have made
contact with 201 of the 209 women or their families.
Three ministers say Tony O'Brien should step
down
It comes as three ministers expressed the view at
Cabinet that Tony O'Brien should step down as
Director General of the Health Service Executive,
according to sources.
RTÉ News understands that Ministers Finian
McGrath, Michael Ring and Katherine Zappone
stated that he should step down from his position.
Mr O’Brien, who is due to leave the role in July, has
been under pressure to step aside earlier following
the controversy over the CervicalCheck screening
programme.
Although Ms Zappone believes that Mr O'Brien
should step aside, she will not break ranks with the
Government in any confidence motion on Mr O'Brien
next week.
That is according to a spokesperson for the
Independent Ministers in Government who also
confirmed that Mr McGrath will adopt a similar
position.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou Ms McDonald has called
Mr Varadkar to declare no confidence in the HSE
Director General in the Dáil.
Mr Varadkar said that Mr O'Brien had eight weeks to
serve, and his focus should be on getting to the
bottom of the issue and to put things right.
He said the post for a new director general would be
advertised in the next few weeks and added that the
board of the HSE would be re-established.
This evening, a spokesperson for the Taoiseach said
that Mr Varadkar has confidence that Mr O'Brien will
over the next seven weeks "finish the job he started".
The Fianna Fáil TD Stephen Donnelly said Mr
O’Brien should be dismissed as the person who had
ultimate governance over the helpline established for
women with concerns about cervical smears.
Speaking during a private members debate in the
Dáil this evening, Mr Donnelly said the operation of
the helpline had been "shambolic".
"It is an ongoing political error to allow the Director
General of the HSE to remain in situ," he said.
The Minister for Health Simon Harris and Mr O'Brien
are due before the joint Oireachtas Committee on
health tomorrow.
Dr Gabriel Scally who has been appointed by the
Government to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the
cervical cancer controversy is no stranger to the
health service here.
And he has accused the UK's National Health
Service of deliberately assisting the private sector in
its efforts to make big profits out of healthcare.
The 63-year-old from West Belfast trained as a
medical doctor in the city's Queens University. He
was a prominent member of the QUB Students'
Union and frequently advocated for the development
of public health services in campaigns organised by
the Union of Students of Ireland.
After serving for seven years as Director of Public
Health in the Eastern Health and Social Services
Board in Northern Ireland, in 1994 Dr Scally was
appointed as a public health director in the NHS in
England.
He co-chaired the British government's advisory
committee on sexual health and has co-authored the
standard textbook on public health in the UK.
Among papers he published in professional journals
was a landmark one on 'clinical governance' following
some of the major clinical failures in services in
England.
Resigned
In 2012, Dr Scally resigned from England's
Department of Health as a direct result of his alarm at
the health policies of the then Conservative-Liberal
Democrats' coalition government. He said he wanted
the freedom to oppose the then Health Secretary,
Andrew Lansley's, shakeup of the NHS.
In an interview with The Guardian newspaper that
year, he attacked employment contracts forbidding
criticism of official policy which, he believed, led to
the muzzling of extensive concerns that many
working in the system harboured privately about the
restructuring.

Among the cuts to public health spending he


witnessed was a reduction in his own staff from fifty
to nine. In the same Guardian article, he criticized Mr
Lansley's championing of the so-called 'responsibility
deal' to tackle obesity and alcohol misuse along with
the abolition of regional public health observatories,
which had provided independent research and data
collection.
He told the Guardian that NHS policy is deliberately
assisting what he called, "the circling birds of prey of
the private sector seeking to make big profits out of
healthcare."
That meant less money for patients, he said.
After resigning his civil service post, Dr Scally was
appointed as an associate fellow at the Institute for
Public Policy Research think-tank and as a visiting
chair at Bristol University and the University of the
West of England.
View image on Twitter
Colman O'Sullivan
@colmanos

Dr Scally says his review will be independent of the


Government and HSE and he will be scrupulously
independent and from his experience it is possible to get
to the bottom of medical failures
4:36 PM - May 8, 2018

3

 See Colman O'Sullivan's other Tweets
Twitter Ads info and privacy
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2018/0508/960896-cervical-
screening-review/

Varadkar and Harris pass


the buck as they shift
blame on to HSE

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".

He argued it has exposed a lack of accountability and transparency.


He warned that Mr Varadkar and Mr Harris "are not simply observers" and
said the Government must take the lead in changing this.

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".

He said the priority had to be supporting affected women, providing clinical


assistance to all with concerns, and the investigation.

"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.

She has been seeking a public inquiry into what happened.

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".

However, he said he is "absolutely open" to a public inquiry being held.

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.

However, Mr Harris responded: "Instead of playing politics today, my priority


is genuinely the women of Ireland"
Mr Varadkar said Mr O'Brien's term in office ends in less than 12 weeks and
the Government expects him to "focus fully on resolving this issue".

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

Mr Justice Peter Kelly described the practice as scandalous

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.

The failures included a failure to recognise acute


stroke, a failure to see a liver abscess, understating
of cancer scans and missed fractures.
The judge noted Dr Bhatia previously worked in other
hospitals here over a number of years despite failing
examinations for the position of consultant
radiologist.
Mr Justice Kelly directed that his judgment should be
sent to the Attorney General, the Minister for Health
and the Secretary General of his Department, the
Chief Executive of the HSE, the Health Information
and Quality Authority and the State Claims Agency.
Lawyers for the Council told the court they hoped the
judgment would help bring an end to the situation
"relatively quickly".
Giving his ruling on the directions he should issue to
the Council, Mr Justice Kelly said the evidence was
very disquieting and showed the lives, health and
welfare of patients were being jeopardised by the
HSE's approach of allowing doctors such as Dr
Bhatia to be appointed as consultants in a wide
variety of specialties, despite not meeting the HSE's
own requirement to be registered on the Council's
specialist registrar.
The court heard 127 out of a total of almost 3,000
consultants employed by the HSE, are not registered
on the Council's specialist registrar.
Although the HSE said this amounted to 4.3% of the
consultants' workforce, the judge said this was no
comfort to patients who may be dealt with by non
specialists.
He said the practice was affecting positions in 20
acute hospitals in a wide range of specialties.
The judge said he was also concerned at the
disparity in the distribution of "sub standard"
consultants.
This was over 20% in one community health
organisation and higher in regional hospitals than in
other hospitals.
https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2018/0508/961123-medical-
council-judge/
concerning letter from GSK to Minister. ... Dept. of Health NOV Minister's Office gsk ... requisite
doses to enable the commencement of a programme in September 2016 ..
Dr. Leo Varadkar, TD, ... Pharmaceuticals 12 Riverwalk vwes t Dublin ... is to be welcomed and
represents real commitment to public health in Ireland. As the largest,
http://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/RECORDS-RELEASED.pdf

Cabinet meeting hears it would 'cost


too much' to sack HSE boss
Harris, Varadkar protecting old
boys’ club
Wednesday, May 09, 2018

Three women out of 10 who had taken cases against the State
in circumstances similar to Vicky Phelan have died, it emerged
yesterday.

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”.
Finian McGrath, Michael Ring, and Katherine Zappone said Mr
O’Brien should depart from his post as he no longer commands
public confidence.
The Irish Examiner has learnt Mr McGrath pushed for the
cabinet to be “more supportive” of Ms Phelan and victims, but
was told that forcing Mr O’Brien from his post could risk a
costly legal action.
The Government has approved the terms of reference for a
scoping exercise into the cervical cancer scandal which is to be
headed by British medical expert Gabriel Scally. It is to be
completed by the end of June.
However, the news that three women who were mistreated
like Ms Phelan have died was disclosed at the Oireachtas
Finance Committee by the director of the State Claims
Agency.
Ciarán Breen said Ms Phelan, who is terminally ill, should never
have been dragged through the courts adding that none of the
women involved in pending cases should go through the same
ordeal.
He confirmed that all of the pending legal cases are against US
labs, with no Irish labs involved.
As well as Ms Phelan, who was awarded €2.5m by a US lab, the
State Claims Agency is now managing nine other similar cases
and Mr Breen said they are aware of another potential case.

I understand that some of the women have died between the


original smear and now,” he said.

A fucking joke of a government, and anyone who


supports these parasites is only a joke as well.
Hang your heads in shame
This shambolic govt shd resign. They are guilty of
gross criminal neglect of Irish women and their
health.
sack the government along with O'Brien useless
shower. A kindergarten class would do better, and
most certainly not any worse.
How would it cost money if the man was not doing
his job
Mattie McGrath has just delivered this statement in the Dáil re Yvonne Walsh

Urgent! Urgent!

The now almost daily jailing of Irish families . . .


Leo/T
At the request of Receiver Paul McCann (Grant Thornton) a mother was jailed on Friday last for alleged Contempt
of Court for failing to surrender her family home, and other properties.
This is "Day 6" and she is still refusing food.
The Receiver's actions came at the end of last week when by agreement valuers for vulture fund Bretany and Grant
Thornton Receivers and the owners were in discussions to resolve the issues.
Late on Friday evening a Judge of the High Court ordered her detention in The Women's Detention Centre at
Mountjoy Jail.

This is "Day 6" and the women is still refusing food.


European Law does not allow Irish Judges to jail Citizens in this way.
The Supreme Court in April heard an Appeal on this very issue where the Irish Human Rights Organisation
(IHRO) also joined in to highlight this unlawful behaviour, of the Irish State, in the manner of how people are
being jailed at the request of Banks and Vulture Funds, and the Irish State.

The decision is awaited ?

In the meantime Persons are still been jailed ?

Can Leo/T make a statement and reassure Irish citizens that these unlawfull actions of the State will stop
immediately?

Can the state expedite this woman's release, immediately?


The European Law is very clear.
The Cyprus citizen illegally jailed in similar circumstances was awarded €15,000 Euros.

Persons jailed can sue this State, yet another scandal?

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.

“None of these cases should go to trial, that’s the reality, and in


three of the cases the US laboratory have already indemnified
the agency”.
Mr Breen also told the Oireachtas Finance Committee the
agency did not know that the smear test scandal was far wider
than Ms Phelan’s case before her situation was made public.
“We did not understand the wider implications which we only
learned of later,” he said.
“Our understanding based on discussions with CervicalCheck
was that all of the women had been informed, we didn’t even
know the number at the time.

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.

Mr Breen said the US laboratory had admitted liability and had


offered the State an indemnity, and said they were going to
deal with Ms Phelan’s settlement.
Fianna Fáil’s finance spokesman Michael Mc-Grath said it is
wrong that women are left to fight an adversarial legal battle
with a laboratory and he asked if there is any plan in place to
provide redress and compensation to women who were
diagnosed with cancer.
Health Minister Simon Harris briefed his colleagues about the
terms of the scoping exercise and the pending commission of
inquiry.
Speaking to the Irish Examiner, several ministers confirmed
the high drama around the Cabinet table.
Mr McGrath raised concerns that a commission of inquiry will
take a year or two and in the end “no one will be held
accountable.”
Several sources said he and Ms Zappone said if Mr O’Brien did
not step down voluntary then he should be told to go.
However, in response, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Mr Harris
said there could be legal ramifications and could cost a lot of
money if they did that.

If we do it before the scoping inquiry is complete and he is


exonerated then it could cost more,” Mr Varadkar is reported
to have said.

An audit by the national screening programme, CervicalCheck,


of 1,482 women diagnosed with cervical cancer since 2008 had
found potential errors in 208 cases.

The majority, 162, were not initially told of the outcome of the
audit. Of the 208, 17 have since died.

The families of three women who died after receiving false


smear test results are among 10 pending cases similar to that
of Vicky Phelan.

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.

We did not understand the wider implications which we only


learned of later,” he said.

Appearing before the Oireachtas finance committee, Mr Breen


said his understanding right up to the end of Ms Phelan’s case
was that all other women had been notified of false negative
smear tests.
“Our understanding based on discussions with CervicalCheck
was that all of the women had been informed, we didn’t even
know the number at the time,” said Mr Breen. “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.”
Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty said he was “deeply alarmed”
that the State Claims Agency had been given what he
described as false information from CervicalCheck which was
“way off the mark”.

I am deeply alarmed that we have the State Claims Agency


pursuing a victim here, somebody who was let down badly by
the State in relation to non-disclosure and CervicalCheck,
some senior person in there is telling you that all of the women
identified in the audit were informed, that there is no other
Vicky Phelan’s out there in terms of non-disclosure,” he said.

Mr Breen confirmed that on top of Ms Phelan’s case, the


agency is aware of nine other actions in train as well as another
potential case.
Three of the cases relate to women who have died between
the original smear and now.
Mr Doherty suggested the HSE should settle with those
involved and then sue the US labs in order to save women the
hardship and trauma of going to court.
Mr Breen said: “None of these cases should go to trial, that’s
the reality and in three of the cases, the US laboratory have
already indemnified the agency.”
Under questioning from Richard Boyd Barrett, Mr Breen
confirmed no Irish labs are involved in legal cases taken by
victims of the CervicalCheck scandal.
Speaking after the committee meeting, Mr Boyd Barrett said
this has confirmed warnings given as far back as 2008 that the
quality of outsourced US screening would be inferior to that
done here in Ireland.
“We have tried to get this information from the minister,
Taoiseach, and the HSE for the last week but they have refused
to provide it because they know it would be utterly damning of
the political decision to outsource cervical smear testing to
profit-driven private US companies,” he said.
“The State Claims Agency has told us what we have suspected
all along that it was the US labs and only the US labs against
whom cases have been taken for misreading and only US labs
that have sought gagging orders.
“This is a totally damning confirmation of the folly of
outsourcing the cervical smear screening.”
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Health Minister Simon Harris are
protecting an “old boys’ club” which runs this State despite it
costing the lives of women, the Dáil has heard.

Leo Varadkar

The director general of the HSE, Tony O’Brien, was called on to


resign amid criticism of his mishandling of the cervical cancer
screening scandal.
During leaders’ questions, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou
McDonald, referred to a story in yesterday’s Irish Examiner
where Stephen Teap, husband of the late Irene who died last
year, called on him to resign.

Mr Teap’s words echo the same sentiment and message as


those of Vicky Phelan when she asked how Tony O’Brien has
the neck to stay in his job,” she said.

The fact that the Taoiseach continues to back Mr O’Brien


sends a very negative message to the victims of this scandal
and the public more generally, Ms McDonald said: “People
look on and see the old boys’ club that runs this state
protected at all costs. The old boys’ club is protected even
when the lives of women have been placed in the gravest of
jeopardy by its members’ catastrophic failures.”
However, Ms McDonald went further in heaping pressure on
Mr O’Brien. “Now, despite Mr O’Brien’s gross incompetence
and his failures, the political establishment is seen to circle the
wagons around him. Earlier the Taoiseach spoke of the feelings
of hard-working staff within the HSE. The Taoiseach’s refusal
to hold Mr O’Brien to account does them the gravest disservice
of all.”
In response, Mr Varadkar said he had heard about Irene and
Stephen Teap and their family. It is a very sad story and one
which has affected everyone in the country, he said.

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.

The Taoiseach echoed Health Minister Simon Harris’ anger at


how this scandal has been mishandled: “I know that people are
very annoyed about how this has been handled over the last
few weeks, about the drip-drip of information and about the
misinformation given on occasion. I assure the deputy that the
Government and I feel exactly the same way.”
Mr Varadkar also said that part of what the Government is
doing is ensuring that this clinical review is undertaken not just
of the 208 women, but of all 1,400 who were part of the
cervical screen audit.
“On Tuesday night, the minister for health announced that
about 1,600 cases that had been notified to the National
Cancer Registry of Ireland had not been notified on to
CervicalCheck.
“Much work has been done in recent days to go through that.
“We can confirm that the vast majority of those 1,600 cases
will not need to be part of the audit because, as we suspected
at the time, many of those women did not have a smear test or
had not had one for a very long period,” he said.
Minister for Health Simon Harris twice declined to express
confidence in the director general of the Health Service
Executive (HSE), Tony O’Brien.

However, the minister said Mr O’Brien had only a number of


weeks left in office and that a recruitment process for a
replacement would begin next week.
Mr Harris said he knows people are angry about the cervical
cancer scandal and that he and other ministers also feel that
anger.
He said he was “furious” at what had occurred.
“I know people are angry and annoyed and, believe it or not,
politicians are angry and annoyed,” he said.
“How could you not be, after the events of the last fortnight?
Information was put out; misinformation was given out. Facts
were withheld; facts were not given. Women were let down.
How could you not be furious at what has happened?”

Mr Harris declined to express confidence in the director


general.
“My focus is on getting answers for women,” he said. “The DG
has a few short weeks left; he is the outgoing DG of the HSE.
I’d rather he spend his remaining few weeks cooperating. I
reckon we will have a new DG by early July.”

Tony O'Brien

Mr Harris called on Mr O’Brien to co-operate fully with making


sure the women affected by the cervical cancer scandal
secured the answers they deserved.
“I have heard people say that there is a benefit in him staying
put,” he said.
“I have made my position clear in relation to Tony O’Brien: He
has about eight weeks to serve his post. I expect him to do
everything he can to help provide answers to women.
“I am furious at what has happened, furious because of the
situation it has put women in, and furious that I haven’t been,
at all times, able to give information, not that I wouldn’t like to,
but because that information wasn’t forthcoming.”
Launching a scoping exercise, Mr Harris said Britain’s Dr
Gabriel Scally would chair the group, which is due to report
back by the end of June.
The group has been given expansive terms of reference,
though some are concerned that delivery of a report by the
end of June is not possible.
Mr Harris said he was confident Dr Scally and the team would
get the job done, though the terms were ambitious.

Simon Harris TD

@SimonHarrisTD

Scoping inquiry into #CervicalCheck now underway.


Thank you to Dr Gabriel Scally & Dr Karin Denton for
undertaking this really important work. Also received the
green light for legislation on mandatory open disclosure
today
6:37 PM - May 8, 2018

 116

 29 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy

“It would have been a mistake to jump straight into a


commission, without doing this scoping exercise,” he said.
“I see this about gathering all the information, talking and
listening to women about their experiences, so that when we
come to establishing a commission, it will be a very focused
one.”
The minister also confirmed that he has Cabinet approval to
move to re-establish the board of the HSE, confirming the
abandonment of Fine Gael’s previous policy of abolishing the
body.
“I will be bringing back a HSE board, so we can put the best
and the brightest in there,” he said.
Tony O'Brien says he tried to create an open culture in the HSE
where people could tell him when there was problems.

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.

He also resisted calls to resign saying he will stay on until the


end of his tenure in July.
advertisement
Mr O'Brien hoped his staff would tell him about serious issues -
putting up a sign in his office saying 'speak truth to power'.

He said: "After a round of meetings and briefings on my very


first day, it appeared to me that people were reluctant to tell
me stuff, so I put the sign up.

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.

"It is not dissimilar to a process that Pat Lam introduced when


he was manager of Connacht, the safe zone."

Update 3.25pm: 'I respectfully decline to accept your


invitation to resign' - Tony O'Brien

The HSE Director General says he will politely turn down


requests for him to step down in the wake of the CervicalCheck
scandal.

While the Health Minister has said the crisis has shaken his
confidence in the health service.

At the Oireachtas Health Committee this morning Tony


O'Brien was asked if he will heed calls to step down.

"I understand your point, I respectfully decline to accept your


invitation to resign without prejudice or otherwise," he said.

Minister Simon Harris has said Mr O'Brien should see out his
time, despite calls from a number of ministers for him to go.

Mr Harris said: "If your question is in my judgement, is it better


that Mr O'Brien serves out his remaining number of weeks and
continue to do what we need him to do, to help get the
answers, then yes it is, that is my judgement."

But the Minister also said he had concerns about the system
Mr O'Brien has presided over.

The events of the last ten days in relation to CervicalCheck


have shook the confidence of the public and me as Minister in
the very fundamentals of the healthcare system.

The HSE boss also batted away questions suggesting he had to


have known about the scandal before he says he did.

Mr O'Brien said: "To quote that great philosopher deputy Alan


Kelly 'it's so bizzare and unbelievable that it must be true'.

Sinn Féin still plan to bring a motion of no confidence in Tony


O'Brien next week.

Update 11.20am: Tony O'Brien 'did not know' about cancer


screening scandal

The under-fire head of the Health Service Executive (HSE) has


said he did not know about the cervical cancer scandal in time.

Those who should have given him information did not realise
the significance of the screening problems, director general
Tony O'Brien said.

He called for a duty of candour to be imposed.

I should have been told, I have sought to create a climate in


which I should be told these things and by and large I am told
of these key issues.

"This one I was not and I am very concerned about that."

The Government has ordered a scoping inquiry into the


matter.

An audit by CervicalCheck - Ireland's national screening


programme - of 1,482 women diagnosed with cervical cancer
since 2008 found potential errors in 208 cases as tests showed
no abnormality when they should have been given a cancer
warning.

Seventeen have since died.

A total of 201 of the women and their families have been


offered early meetings, while the remaining seven are abroad
and cannot be contacted, health officials said.

Almost 12,000 women have called a helpline.


RTÉ News

@rtenews

Tony O’Brien says he is intending to continue in his role


as Director General of the HSE
10:22 AM - May 9, 2018

2

 See RTÉ News's other Tweets
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Mr O'Brien told the Joint Health Committee at the Oireachtas:


"It would have been beneficial if all the communication had
been completed before it came into the public domain. That is
what has damaged confidence.
If I had known and been made aware of all implications of this I
would certainly have put in place a different approach to how
the whole thing has been dealt with.

He steps down in July despite calls for him to go sooner, and


Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has claimed he was
"untouchable".

He said he intended to continue work agreed with health


minister Simon Harris to meaningfully address all issues of
significant concern.

He has a sign in his office, "speak truth to power", put up on his


second day after becoming concerned that people were not
giving him information.

I have encouraged a process of people telling me stuff.

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.

Mr Harris said everyone's confidence had been shaken but Mr


O'Brien was best placed to address the issues raised while he
served the remainder of his term.

PA

Earlier: Tony O'Brien refuses to


resign from role after
CervicalCheck scandal

Update 10.50am: HSE boss Tony O'Brien says he will not


resign despite pressure from political parties.

Three ministers, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin have all shared their
belief that Mr O'Brien should step down after the
CervicalCheck scandal.

He has told an Oireachtas Committee if he had been made


aware of the situation earlier he could have made the fallout
easier for everyone.

Watch live here:

When asked by Fianna Fáil's Stephen Donnelly if he would


heed the calls to step down, Tony O'Brien said no.

"So while I recognise the concern I believe the effort underway


to address that concern is appropriate and meaningful. I
understand your point.

I respectfully decline to accept your invitation to resign without


prejudice or otherwise.
Earlier: CervicalCheck scandal
'shook the confidence' of public
and Health Minister, Harris says

Update 10.05am: Simon Harris says his confidence in the


Health Service has been shaken by the CervicalCheck scandal.

The Health Minister and the HSE Director General Tony


O'Brien are giving a quarterly update to the Oireachtas Health
Committee.

Mr O'Brien has told the Oireachtas Health Committee he will


not resign.

It has heard Mr O'Brien was meant to be on annual leave this


week but cancelled it to deal with CervicalCheck.

Health Minister Simon Harris opened the meeting by


addressing the events of the past few weeks.

"This has been an intensely difficult time for everyone


involved, most importantly the individuals, the women and
their families," he said.

The events of the last ten days in relation to CervicalCheck


have shook the confidence of the public and me as Minister in
the very fundamentals of our healthcare system.
"Fundamental values have been questioned, Honesty, truth,
openness; our commitment to these vital principles and values
has been questioned."

Digital Desk

Earlier: HSE's Tony O'Brien to


appear before Health
Committee at Leinster House

Update 6.42am: The HSE boss Tony O'Brien is due to appear


again before the Health Committee at Leinster House today,
as calls continue for his resignation.

He is scheduled to appear alongside the Health Minister Simon


Harris to give a quarterly update on the state of the health
services.

The hearing is being over-shadowed by the Cervical Check


scandal.

Sinn Féin will table a no confidence motion in Mr O'Brien in the


Dáil next week.

The party's finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty says


someone must be held responsible for the current controversy.

"The HSE completely misinformed the State Claims Agency


when they said during the Vicky Phelan case that all women
were informed of their misdiagnosis and what we found out
two weeks ago is that 162 women were not.

Somebody is lying, somebody is covering up, and the person


that has to be held accountable is the person who's at the top.

"Do your job, Minister, and tell Mr O'Brien that it's time for him
to go."

Fianna Fáil's Health spokesperson Stephen Donnelly also told


the Health Minister it is time for Mr O'Brien to step down.

"I would put it to you as well, Minister, that it is an ongoing


political error to allow the Director General of the HSE to
remain in situ," he said.

The Director General of the HSE needs to resign immediately


without prejudice for three reasons: he was in charge through
this entire thing; he is clearly a distraction to supporting the
women involved; and the response to date in terms of the
helpline has been shambolic.
A British health expert who investigated abuse at the
Winterbourne care home for the disabled will head up the
scoping inquiry into the misinterpretation of cancer tests in
Ireland.

Dr Gabriel Scally. Pic: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

Gabriel Scally is a senior public health doctor and adviser to the


British department of health and the NHS.
The 63-year-old from West Belfast contributed to a serious
case review of Winterbourne View Hospital where staff were
shown to be mistreating and assaulting adults with learning
disabilities and autism.
Health Minister Simon Harris has asked Dr Scally to give early
feedback by the start of next month and a full report by the
end of June.
The scoping inquiry will independently examine details of the
non-disclosure to patients relating to CervicalCheck clinical
audits and the management and level of knowledge of various
parties including the Health Service Executive and the
Department of Health.
The scoping inquiry will also examine the tendering,
contracting, and operation of the labs contracted by
CervicalCheck.
it wasn't me, it wasn't us, it was them"... so all this talk of avoiding court cases is a load of
bollox. There could be dual courtcases for families and women here, One against the labs,
and another against the HSE \ Cervical Check for not telling patients of the results of the
audits.

Then sue the HSE and Mary Harney


The Irish Women Did not consent to a Foreign USA Lab
use our DNA Smear Test Without our Permission that
makes this Illegal and Unconstitutional under irish law sue
the government like Leo Varadkar,Michael Martin, and
Mary Harney, James O Reilly, Simon harris and USA Lab
Private Company sue Every bastards Here mentions
involved i know i will if i find out i have Cervical Cancer, i
will call blue murder and cause eruptions and Stop any
more Breach of my DNA by By Passing the Scum and
refuse until the cervical smear test is based in Ireland not
USA or any other country,By pass is what i will do and
blame it on these bastards for lying and deceiving and
abusing irish woman DNA resources without our Consent,
and withholding Serious information like Cancer and
allowing all the woman to die thats manslaughter and
Murder in the eyes of Irish Common law not USA marshal
Federal Law, Irish Law, USA Warmongering Cunts the
taught of these blood hunger murderers Handling my
smear DNA Test, Oh it make me wanna puck, we cannot
even trust the irish government to get it right with a smear
test for woman well god help us all including the woman
the abuse the fucking male government do unto
vulnerable Irish woman and Children more Abuse over
and over again the male in the Dial and Oireacthas and
Seanad walk away freely from this Serious Scandal and
Laugh into the Woman Face fucking Pricks
"At the Oireachtas Health Committee last week it
was revealed that there are 127 medical doctors
practicing in Ireland as consultants without being
enrolled on the specialist register.
“It was confirmed at the meeting that there is an
increased clinical risk associated with these
unqualified doctors.
“Minister Harris and his Government colleagues are
aware of this. It is shocking that they failed to take
action to address this.”
On Tuesday Justice Kelly warned the practice of
appointing non-qualified consultants is “dangerous”
adding that the “HSE appears to be a law unto itself in
this regard”.
The practice has been described as “scandalous” and pointed out that
the lives, health and welfare of patients were being at risk

Unqualified medical workers the next big


HSE scandal if no action is taken
Action must be taken now to what could become the next
big health service scandal, it was claimed today.
Fianna Fail has called on the Health Minister to set out
what steps he is going to take to deal with the growing
problem of unqualified medical personal being appointed
as consultants.

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.

(L TO R) Fianna Fail Leader Micheal Martin TD & Fianna Fail


spokesperson for Brexit Stephen Donnelly TD READ MORE
Smear test scandal: HSE boss Tony O'Brien claims health
chiefs knew they weren't fully informed on cancer
misdiagnoses
He said: “Mr Justice Kelly’s judgement has profound
implications for the HSE’s continued use of unqualified
consultants and the Health Minister’s willingness to stand
over this practice.
“At the Oireachtas Health Committee last week it was
revealed that there are 127 medical doctors practicing in
Ireland as consultants without being enrolled on the
specialist register.
“It was confirmed at the meeting that there is an increased
clinical risk associated with these unqualified doctors.
“Minister Harris and his Government colleagues are aware
of this. It is shocking that they failed to take action to
address this.”
On Tuesday Justice Kelly warned the practice of
appointing non-qualified consultants is “dangerous” adding
that the “HSE appears to be a law unto itself in this
regard”.

TD's Stephen Donnelly, Catherine Murphy & Roisin Shortall


READ MORE
Smear test scandal: Two thirds of callers to cervical
cancer helpline not getting calls back
Deputy Donnelly added: “Public confidence in the health
system will undoubtedly be shaken as a result of the
judgement made by the President of the High Court.
“How can patients be sure that their consultant doctors are
in fact suitably qualified to perform specialist procedures?

“This issue seems to particularly impact on the regional


hospitals. Why should people who rely on the services
provided by these hospitals have to put up with increased
clinical risk due to the use of unqualified doctors?
“It’s important that the Minister for Health Simon Harris
moves immediately to ensure that the HSE fulfils its
obligation that all consultants are enrolled on the specialist
register and that those practicing in all Irish hospitals hold
the appropriate medical qualifications. People need to
have full confidence in the health service.
“Minister Harris and the HSE also need to be upfront with
people and set out how exactly this situation arose
considering there is a requirement by law for all
consultants to hold the necessary qualifications and be
enrolled on the medical register.”

An international expert panel review led by the Royal College


of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the British Society
for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology will review the results
of screening tests of all women who have developed cervical
cancer who participated in the screening programme since it
was established.

Ministers warned Cabinet


leaks are a 'criminal
offence'

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar with his Cabinet President Michael D


Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin
You think this is fiction? Think again. It seems that certain people ... like Tony O'Brien,
the disastrous head of the HSE can't be sacked because "it would cost too Much". Other
people who can't be sacked in spite of gross incompetence include government Ministers
like Simon Harris, Eoghan Murphy and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Other
"UNSACKABLES" include Secretary General's in the Civil Service and EVERY manager
who works for the HSE. And of course GROSS INCOMPETENCE never results in any
loss of income. When failure politicians and civil servants retire they are awarded
massive lump sums (tax free of course) and golden pensions. The list of RETIRED
FAILURES is a long one but here's just a few examples: Mary HARNEY, Enda KENNY,
Martin CALLINAN, Michael NOONAN, Nóirín O'SULLIVAN, Patrick NEARY ... there's a
lot more, but I'd run out of ink

Interview with woman who


has terminal cancer "seared
the soul of our country", Dáil
hears
Emma Mhic Mhathuna said she is "dying when I don’t need to
die"
May 10, 18

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

Interview with woman who


has terminal cancer "seared
the soul of our country", Dáil
hears
Emma Mhic Mhathuna said she is "dying when I don’t need to
die"
may 9th 2018S

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.newstalk.com/Dil-hears-interview-of-woman-with-terminal-
cancer-seared-the-soul-of-our-country

HSE chief accuses TD of


"causing hysteria" over
Cervical Check crisis
Marc MacSharry suggested there has been "zero
accountability"
NEWS

HSE Director-General Tony O'Brien appears before the Public


Accounts Committee | Oireachtas screenshot
The director-general of the Health Service Executive
(HSE) Tony O'Brien has accused a TD of trying to cause
hysteria over the Cervical Check scandal.
Mr O'Brien has appeared before the Oireachtas Public
Accounts Committee (PAC), where he was accused of
dancing on the head of a pin to avoid resigning.
He says he did not know about women not being told of the
audits of their smear tests, and there is no way smear testing
can be infallible.
Fianna Fáil TD Marc MacSharry attacked Mr O'Brien's stance
- saying this was one of the worst scandals in the history of
the State.
Mr MacSharry put it to Mr O'Brien: "What you're implying is
'we entered a system, we set it up, it did a lot of good work
and there were some causalities.
"That's the implication of what you're saying... that is the
implication".
Mr O'Brien replied: "No, that's what you're saying - that's what
you're saying.
"You need to step back".
Deputy MacSharry added: "In fairness Mr O'Brien, none of this
is personal Mr O'Brien, but we do have to hold people to
account - and there is zero accountability it seems to me".
"You want to claim credit for the successes, but when the
wheels came off and people are dying and a nation of women
are terrified this morning you want to say 'We've done a lot of
good work, let's have a scoping exercise - and when I'm
safely, as set up by the minister and given permission, in the
USA on some boardroom, he'll find out what really happened".
Mr O'Brien then said: "Why don't we both wait until the
outcome of the expert review, and then you can reflect and I
can reflect.
"At the moment, you are causing hysteria".
In the Dáil, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said there has
been no circling of the wagons around Mr O'Brien, but he
should continue as head of the HSE.
Minister Donohoe said: "Our only agenda is to do the right
thing, to establish what has happened, there are no wagons
being circled, there's no circle being created".
The issue will re-emerge in the Oireachtas next week with
Sinn Féin's motion of no confidence in Mr O'Brien.

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

""Hell hath no fury


More lies Leo was minister for health then keep the cover up going that's why there where
sticking by him leave the murder in charge of the crime scene and pay him and a nice hand
out while he cleans up his crime scene and pay him a nice hand out
Tony o brien steps down with no doubt a big pay off should have been sacked with no
money no amount of money will bring back the women who died or give women back
there life who are dying the government should be gone now they knew about all this and
hid it from the media
Sure he doesn't giv a shit, he'll be flush in couple of weeks! The guards shud be questioning
him, women are dead!!

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

Smear test screening still outsourced


to US, six years on
Thursday, October 04, 2012

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.”

John Kane, assistant secretary general of the Medical Labora-tory Scientists


Association, said he understood Quest had given a commitment in the original tender
to open a laboratory here, but had not. He said a valuable skill-set was being lost to
the country by the outsourcing of a vital aspect of women’s health.

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.

This is what Fine Gael have proposed for health....

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...

Document on these independent trusts from the Department of Health...

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&notif_id=1526001
540820211

Securing the Future of Smaller Hospitals: A


Framework for Development
https://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/SecuringSmallerHospitals.pdf

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

smear scandal, Dail 10.5.18

Bríd Smith TD
5 hours ago ·
Follow

PRIVATISED EXPORTED SMEARS AND PRIVATISED EXPORTED ABORTION. In all


10 legal cases being taken in the #cervicalcancer scandal, the lab at fault was the
private, for-profit, Quest lab in the USA. What about the 208 outstanding false
negatives? The promised report is still not available to us. I asked about this today in
the Dáil.
PRIVATISED EXPORTED SMEARS AND PRIVATISED EXPORTED ABORTION. In all 10 legal cases
being taken in the #cervicalcancerscandal, the lab at fault was the private, for-profit, Quest lab in the USA
https://www.facebook.com/BridSmithTD/videos/615190
832165586/
In a robust exchange at the Public Accounts Committee, TD Marc
MacSharry said if the CervicalCheck controversy had taken place in the
private sector, the HSE's Tony O'Brien would "be gone months ago".
"We have an entire nation of women terrified," MacSharry said.
O'Brien accused MacSharry of "causing hysteria" and said people will be
held to account for any mistakes that were made: http://jrnl.ie/4003525f
Pics: Oireachtas.ie
Do the poll folks

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.”

This is how the untouchables are treated in this country.


Only two ways that can happen...

1. People get out on the streets in mass numbers and bring Dublin to a halt and demand that the Govt
go...

2. Fianna Fail pull the plug.

Which do you think is more likely?


The useless bastards in government need to go with him
Simon how can you thank him for years of service when on his watch the hse has failed so many.
Simon how did he serve the public. Far too many scandals and failures to name here
Our system is broken it protects the likes of him and politicians it's in place since the 30s it
should be changed to make politicians heads of departments bankers judges all accountable
He should be charged with murder and sentenced to life and his pension removed the rest of the scum
responsible should be charged as well sacking him is not doing anything just more spin so the
government looks like it cares we need to make sure the HSE and anyone else involved does not walk
free good knows they have covered up so much it has got to stop we must demand change otherwise
they will continue to get away with murder
thank someone for fucking up . In the private sector you get sacked in the public sector you
get a golden handshake and a pension he should be jailed for manslaughter
so why the fuck are you still here killing women?
@SimonHarrisTD @campaignforleo RESIGN WITH HIM
#CervicalCheckScandal #VickyPhelan #EmmaNíMhathúna Death sentenced to protect your
egos
'This isn't fair' - woman speaks after terminal cancer
diagnosis
'This isn't fair' - woman speaks after terminal cancer
diagnosis
Emma Ní Mhathúna, a mother of five from Co Kerry, who has been given a
terminal diagnosis of cancer, says telling her young family of her diagnosis
was the hardest thing she has ever had to do.
May 10th 2018
Emma Mhic Mhathúna, a mother of five from Co Kerry, who has been given a terminal
diagnosis of cancer, says telling her young family of her diagnosis was the hardest thing
she has ever had to do.
https://soundcloud.com/morning-ireland/this-isnt-fair-woman-speaks-after-
terminal-cancer-diagnosis
FG are like royalty of old, tax Revenue more
important than people, and their solution to
#CervicalCheckScandal will be to ask Ó'Bribe to
build and run a new lab
This government truly do have blood on their hands! USELESS WANKERS!
jail them on numerous crimes! Politicians, bankers and the guards! Crooked, corrupt and
dangerous!

Memo to HSE boss warned


there could be ‘screening did
not diagnose my cancer'
headlines following audit
letters
Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee this morning, Tony
O’Brien insisted the message did not “ring alarm bells”.
May 10, 18
HSE boss Tony O'Brien
Image: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland
A MEMO to HSE director general Tony O’Brien about the
CervicalCheck audit warned there could be negative media
coverage following the issuing of letters to doctors.
The July 2016 briefing note states that “all international
screening programmes will have encountered a media
headline that ‘screening did not diagnose my cancer’”.
It said that the CervicalCheck programme was prepared for
such media coverage and “communications materials” had
been drawn up to counter such a kickback against the
organisation.
The note states that the outcomes of the audit process
showed that while the majority of cancers were detected “as
early as possible through cervical screening, not all cancers
were prevented”.
It said it communications strategy would “ensure
transparent, effective and robust communications processes
are in place” so as to provide “clear information for the
media and the public where appropriate on
the CervicalCheck Clinical audit process and results”.
Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) this
morning, O’Brien insisted the message did not “ring alarm
bells”.
O’Brien said the memo issued to him in July 2016 outlined a
“communications protocol” in relation to the review of
smear tests.
You can view the memo here.
The CervicalCheck scandal came into the public eye last
month when Vicky Phelan, who has received a terminal
cervical cancer diagnosis, settled a High Court action against
the HSE and Clinical Pathology Laboratories for €2.5
million over incorrect smear test results from 2011.
More information has continued to emerge about the
controversy whereby women were told that they had normal
smear test results in error. It has since emerged that more
than 1,500 women who developed cervical cancer did not
have their cases reviewed by CervicalCheck.
Informing treating clinicians
The memo states that in February 2016, CervicalCheck
began telling treating doctors the outcome of the audit.
It states that some laboratories (that review the smear tests)
raised concerns about CervicalCheck telling doctors about
the audit outcomes and there had been legal correspondence
sent. A meeting was set up to deal with the matter in May
2016 and the legal issue ceased.
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.

‘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.

Doherty: Tony O’Brien


should ‘absolutely’ stay in
position
HSE director general should work ‘day in, day out’ to get
accountability, Minister says

Regina Doherty: Tony O’Brien should be ‘redoubling his efforts’ to get


accountability in the wake of the scandal. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The
Irish Times

Vivienne Clarke, Martin Wall, Sarah Bardon


Updated: Tue, May 8, 2018, HSEdirector general Tony O’Brien
“absolutely” should stay in his position and work “day in,
day out” to get accountability and the facts around the
cervical cancer screening scandal, a Government Minister
has said.
Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Regina Doherty said Mr O’Brien “absolutely should stay”
in his position.
Mr O’Brien has been head of numerous sections within the
health service, she said, “so he knows the system inside
out. It’s far from letting him off, we should be”.
An inquiry is to examine the issues surrounding the
CervicalCheck programme, highlighted first by the case of
Vicky Phelan. She settled a High Court action against a US
laboratory used by CervicalCheck for €2.5 million at the
end of April.
It subsequently emerged 209 women had been affected by
the screening scandal, many of whom were not told of
“false negative” screening results , and 17 women
subsequently died.
Ms Doherty told Newstalk Breakfast Mr O’Brien should be
“redoubling his efforts” to get accountability in the wake of
the scandal.
On RTÉ’s Morning Ireland Minister for Transport Shane
Ross said the Government should honour Ms Phelan, who
is now terminally ill, by getting to the bottom of the
scandal.
Related
‘Pause all letters’: CervicalCheck briefing memo to
HSE
Mhic Mhathúna interview: ‘My world began to slow
down and stop’
Memo to HSE in 2016 warned of negative media fallout
from cancer patients
“It is a scandal that people are not being held accountable.
What happened to Vicky Phelan is a tragedy,” he added.
Mr Ross said he refused to be judge and jury for Mr
O’Brien but that the Independent Alliance, of which he is a
member, was very concerned about impunity.
The Cabinet is discussing the terms of reference for a
scoping inquiry into the issue on Tuesday and will also
discuss the re-establishment of a board to oversee the
HSE. It will also consider the position of Mr O’Brien.
The inquiry will examine the outsourcing of services to
laboratories in the United States. It will also seek to
establish the background to CervicalCheck’s failure to tell
women what clinical audits of their screens had found and
how much the HSE and Department of Health knew about
this.

The inquiry will be chaired by an independent health


management expert from the United Kingdom and will
report to Minister for Health Simon Harris in June.
It will also talk to Vicky Phelan, who was briefed on scope
of inquiry by Mr Harris. The scoping exercise will allow for
other persons affected by this controversy to feed into
potential terms of reference for a commission of
investigation.
On Monday night Mr O’Brien took issue with comments
by Minister of State at the Department of Health Jim Daly
that he would step down from his post earlier than
anticipated.
In a letter to the secretary general of the Department of
Health, Jim Breslin, Mr O’Brien maintained the Minister’s
remarks had been made with only “partial knowledge of
discussions” that had been under way on the issue.
Mr O’Brien said Mr Daly’s comments on RTÉ’s The Week
in Politics programme on Sunday had led to speculation
and suggestions that he would be leaving his post of HSE
director general four weeks early.
Mr O’Brien maintained he always planned to take leave at
the end of June. His contract runs until the end of July.
On the programme Mr Daly said that Mr O’Brien would be
leaving at the start of July as he would be taking
accumulated annual leave.
The Fianna Fáil front bench is expected to consider on
Tuesday a motion of no confidence that Sinn Féin is
seeking to table on Mr O’Brien.
Meanwhile, the HSE said 7,678 women who contacted the
helpline since April 28th had asked to be called back and
that so far 2,686 of those calls have been returned.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/doherty-tony-o-brien-should-
absolutely-stay-in-position-1.3487826?mode=amp

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

Safety update of HPV vaccines


Extract from report of GACVS meeting of 7-8 June 2017, published in the WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record
of 14 July 2017
Since licensure in 2006, over 270 million doses of HPV vaccines have been distributed. GACVS
first reviewed the safety data in 2007,12 and subsequently in 2008,13 2009,14 2013,15 2014,16 and
2015.17 Early on, the Committee was presented signals related to anaphylaxis and syncope. The risk
of anaphylaxis has been characterized as approximately 1.7 cases per million doses, and syncope
was established as a common anxiety or stress-related reaction to the injection. No other adverse
reactions have been identified and GACVS considers HPV vaccines to be extremely safe.
Further safety data have been generated recently from Denmark, the United Kingdom and the
United States of America and a comprehensive literature review has been conducted, prompting
GACVS to review these new findings. Among the new data were studies looking at Guillain-Barré
syndrome (GBS). The Committee has already assessed GBS as a signal and noted discrepant
findings. Epidemiological studies assessing the risk of GBS following HPV vaccination have been
published.18 including population cohort studies from Denmark and Sweden.19In 2017, in response
to an online publication from France suggesting an increased risk,20 a large self-controlled case-
series study from the UK was conducted, based on a population where 10.4 million doses were
administered. This most recent study found no significant increased risk for GBS after any dose of
vaccine, in any of several risk periods assessed or for either vaccine brand.21 In addition, GBS was
specifically selected as an outcome in studies from the US using the Vaccine Adverse Events
Reporting System (VAERS) and the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD). GACVS was presented with
new data from VAERS following 60 million distributed doses, and the VSD data with over 2.7
million doses administered until the end of 2015. No association between HPV vaccine and GBS
was identified. Both the UK and US studies concluded, based on their respective data, that a risk of
>1 case of GBS per million doses of vaccine could now be excluded.
In addition, GACVS was presented with new studies assessing other safety concerns, again from
the US, as well as from Denmark. These studies included examination of specific outcomes that
included complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome
(POTS), premature ovarian insufficiency, primary ovarian failure, and a further look at the risk of
venous thromboembolism. With now large population level data from several countries, the
Committee saw no new evidence for a causal association between HPV vaccine and those
conditions. While safety data from Denmark and Sweden for >3 million women aged 18–44 years
showed an apparent increased risk for celiac disease, the investigators considered that, most likely,
this represented an unmasking of an existing condition during the vaccination visit rather than a
causal association. Overall the study did not raise any other autoimmune safety issues of concern.
As HPV vaccine is often administered during potential childbearing years it is important to
establish the safety profile in pregnant women when inadvertent administration occurs. To date no
safety concerns have arisen during the pre-licensure clinical trials or in post-licensure
surveillance.22 These reassuring data now include a recent national cohort study from Denmark that
assessed 540 805 pregnancies.23 In addition, new data from the VSD for >92 000 eligible
pregnancies were presented to the Committee. No adverse obstetric, birth or structural abnormality
outcomes were observed. Inadvertent administration of HPV vaccine during pregnancy has no
known adverse outcomes in either mother or infant.
CRPS and POTS continue to be presented as case reports in association with HPV vaccination,
particularly from Denmark and Japan. These were initially assessed by GACVS in 2015.24 These
conditions include a spectrum of diverse symptoms, making assessment using administrative health
collections challenging. In June 2017, new data from Japan that assessed cases with diverse
symptoms, including pain and motor dysfunction, were presented to the Committee. The cases were
identified from a nationwide epidemiological survey involving multiple hospital medical
departments of various disciplines including pain, neurology, rheumatology, paediatrics and
psychiatry/psychosomatic medicine. These complex syndromes manifested in both sexes, although
were more common in girls, and occurred in both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. The
Committee concluded that since their last review, there is still no evidence to suggest a causal
association between HPV vaccine and CRPS, POTS or the diverse symptoms that include pain and
motor dysfunction.
Also in 2017, the WHO commissioned a systematic review of serious adverse events (SAEs)
following HPV vaccines. A draft was presented to GACVS at the meeting. Using the GRADE
system to systematically assess the quality of evidence, the quality of evidence in the studies was
considered high across randomized controlled trials. The outcomes considered were all SAEs,
medically significant conditions, new onset of chronic diseases, and deaths. Data for 73 697
individuals were reviewed. Lower level studies were excluded in favour of the large body of higher
level evidence available. For all outcomes, the evidence from randomized controlled trials was
supported by good quality cohort studies, with no difference in rates of selected SAEs between
exposed and unexposed to HPV vaccine observed.
There are now accumulated safety studies that include several million persons25 and which compare
the risks for a wide range of health outcomes in vaccinated and unvaccinated subjects. However,
despite the extensive safety data available for this vaccine, attention has continued to focus on
spurious case reports and unsubstantiated allegations. The Committee continues to express concern
that the ongoing unsubstantiated allegations have a demonstrable negative impact on vaccine
coverage in a growing number of countries, and that this will result in real harm.26 While ongoing
monitoring and collection of robust data are important to maintain confidence, one of the
challenges associated with the continued generation of data is that artefacts will be observed, which
could pose further challenges for communication when taken in haste, out of context, and in the
absence of the overall body of evidence.
GACVS discussed the importance of ensuring that immunization policy-makers and other
stakeholders have ready access to articulate summaries of the vaccine safety information, to assist
in evidence-based decision-making. One concrete step will be to update the HPV adverse reaction
rate sheet, to reflect the most recent evidence available.27
Where HPV vaccination programmes have been implemented effectively, the benefits are already
very apparent. Several countries that have introduced HPV vaccines to their immunization
programme have reported a 50% decrease in the incidence rate of uterine cervix precancerous
lesions among younger women. In contrast, the mortality rate from cervical cancer in Japan, where
HPV vaccination is not proactively recommended, increased by 3.4% from 1995 to 2005 and is
expected to increase by 5.9% from 2005 to 2015. This acceleration in disease burden is particularly
evident among women aged 15–44 years.28 Ten years after introduction, global HPV vaccine uptake
remains slow, and the countries that are most at risk for cervical cancer are those least likely to
have introduced the vaccine. Since licensure of HPV vaccines, GACVS has found no new adverse
events of concern based on many very large, high quality studies. The new data presented at this
meeting have strengthened this position.

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.

The unprecedented intervention came after Ms Mhic


Mhathúna asked Mr Higgins to intervene in the scandal amid
claims the Government and the HSE is failing to act on the
issue.
In a heart-breaking interview on RTE Radio's Morning Ireland
programme, the Kerry mother said she has terminal cancer
and will be told how long she has left to live on Friday.
Update - 2.40pm: The mother of five caught up in the
CervicalCheck scandal has explained how she had to tell her
young children that she was dying.

In an interview today on An Saol ó Dheas on RTÉ Raidió na


Gaeltachta, Emma Mhic Mhathúna, has made an appeal to
President Michael D Higgins.
RTÉ News

@rtenews

'It hasn't hit me that I'm dying' - Emma Mhic Mhathúna


speaks after terminal cancer diagnosis |
https://
bit.ly/2rxS79K

1:26 PM - May 10, 2018



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 94 people are talking about this
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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.”

“I had to ask them the awful question – do you want to be kept


together ... I have a very hard job now because I have five
children and my father lives in England.

It’s hard to find a good family for one child, but for five ...

“This morning, Donncha was on one side of me in the bed and


Oisín was on the other, they fight over who can be beside
Mammy in the morning... who will be able to take my place
when I’m gone?

"You can’t put a price on (the importance of) my job.”

In the interview on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Emma appealed


to the President to take a stand on the matter.
“And I’d like to say to the President, if he’s listening, think
about the women in your family, and ask yourself, if someone
gave one of them cancer unnecessarily, what would you do?

"It’s unbelievable. Women of Ireland are dying, they are the


daughters and mothers of this country.

"I have five children, Vicky Phelan has two ... how many
children will be without mothers after this scandal?”

Emma also said that she had no confidence in politicians.

“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.”

“The English for our national anthem Amhrán na bhFiann is


The Soldiers’ Song, but there’s no soldiers looking after us
here.

"They’re like Teletubbies. I have a new name for the Taoiseach,


Tony and Simon – Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po, because they
haven’t a clue what they’re doing.”

10.07am: 'My children are going to be without me' - Mother


reveals heartbreak after terminal cancer diagnosis

A mother-of-five who has been told she is going to die because


of cancer has said she is not sure if her youngest child will even
remember her.

Emma Mhic Mhathúna is one of the at least 209 women whose


smear tests were incorrectly read, and subsequently went on
to develop cervical cancer, despite having religiously attended
CervicalCheck, the national screening programme.
She found out she was in that cohort last Sunday following a
call from her doctor in Dublin where she had initially been
treated after being diagnosed with stage 2B cervical cancer in
2016.

Ms Mhic Mhathúna said that, as a mother, telling her young


family of her terminal diagnosis was the hardest thing she has
ever done.

Ms Mhic Mhathúna had told the Irish Examiner: “The doctor


told me that the smear results I got in 2013 were wrong … the
first indications of cancer, the cells changing in the body, were
there.

“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.

This morning she said: "This is what makes it so heartbreaking.


I'm dying when I don't need to die ... This isn't fair.

My children are going to be without me and I'm going to be


without them.

“And I tried to do everything right and I don't even know if my


little baby is going to remember me."

Ms Mhic Mhathúna, who had "such a good day" celebrating her


child's confirmation on Tuesday, explained that she was meant
to collect her results on the same day, but decided against it.

The Co Kerry resident was central to the HSE promotional


video “I’m relieved that she is protected” for the HPV vaccine
last year.
An internal memo to HSE director general Tony O'Brien
warned that an audit of cervical cancer screening cases could
result in headlines such as "screening did not diagnose my
cancer".

The memo was prepared for HSE management in July 2016 but
released to the Public Accounts Committee today.

It said that negative media coverage could ensue after the


CervicalCheck audit but that they were prepared for such
coverage as "communications materials" had been created to
"ensure transparent, effective and robust communications
processes are in place so as to provide clear information for the
media and the public".

CervicalCheck first initated an audit in 2010.

The memo says that cervical screening is not 100% accurate:


screening cannot give a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer and a negative
screening result does not mean that the disease will not
develop in future.

It ended by outlining the next steps to be taken, those being:

• Pause all letters


• Await advice of solicitors
• Decide on the order and volume of dispatch to mitigate any
potential risks
• Continue to prepare reactive communications response for a
media headline that ‘screening did not diagnose my cancer’.

Update - 1.51pm: Under-fire HSE director general Tony


O'Brien was told of the CervicalCheck tests audit in an internal
memo two years ago, writes Fiachra Ó Cionnaith of the Irish
Examiner.

However, he has insisted the message did not "ring alarm


bells" because he was told women would be informed of what
happened.

Mr O'Brien confirmed he was informed in March or April 2016


that Cervical Check had conducted a clinical audit of women
who took the tests and about plans to tell the women of what
happened at a Dáil meeting on Thursday morning.

Speaking at the latest meeting of the cross-party public


accounts committee, Mr O Brien told Labour TD Alan Kelly
that in March or April 2016 he received a memo from officials
about the audit.
He said it raised no "alarm bells" because the memo also
outlined a communications strategy to inform the women of
what happened - which was subsequently not followed.

He added that to his recollection did not mention the number


of women who may be involved, and that he will supply the
PAC with the memo this afternoon.

During the same meeting the Department of Health's


secretary general Jim Breslin told Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane
the Department was also informed of some of the details of
the memo in early 2016.

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.

Meanwhile, during the same meeting HSE officials again


claimed they do not know how many of the women affected by
the cervical cancer scandal have since developed terminal
cancer.

Speaking after Kerry woman Emma Ni Mhathuna told RTE


Radio's Morning Ireland programme she will learn on Friday
how long she has to live, HSE officials told Sinn Féin TD
Jonathan O Brien they do not know how many other women
are facing the same situation - two weeks after the scandal
became public.

1.06pm: 'There are no wagons being circled' around Tony


O'Brien, says Paschal O'DonohoeThere has been no circling
of the wagons around Tony O'Brien, but he should continue as
head of the HSE, according to the Finance Minister Paschal
Donohoe.

Mr O'Brien faced further calls to resign this morning at an


Oireachtas Committee.

Mr Donohoe said: "Our only agenda is to do the right thing,


established what has happened.

There are no wagons being circled, there are no circles being


created.

The Finance Minister later said Mr O'Brien should continue his


work.

Fianna Fáil TD Marc MacSharry called for his resignation, but


Mr O'Brien said he could not take responsibility for what
happened at CervicalCheck as he didn't know about it.

He also accused Marc MacSharry of scaremongering, saying:


"Why don't we both wait until the outcome of the expert
review, and then you can reflect and I can reflect.

"At the moment, you are causing hysteria."

That is something Fianna Fáil Deputy leader Dara Calleary told


the Dáil was rich.

Mr Calleary said: "If he (Tony O'Brien) won't take


accountability for his own role in this, Minister, we don't need
words, we don't need promises, we don't need shouting or
roaring in this chamber, we need action."

The issue will re-emerge in the Oireachtas next week with Sinn
Féin's motion of no confidence in Tony O'Brien.

11.04am: Fianna Fáil TD tells Tony O'Brien 'there is zero


accountability' in CervicalCheck scandal

The head of the HSE Tony O'Brien has accused a TD of trying


to cause hysteria over the CervicalCheck scandal.

Mr O'Brien is appearing before an Oireachtas committee


where he has been accused of dancing on the head of a pin to
avoid resigning.
He says he did not know about women not being told of the
audits of their smear tests, and there is no way smear testing
can be infallible.

Fianna Fáil TD Marc MacSharry attacked Mr O'Brien's stance


saying this was one of the worst scandals in the history of the
State.
Mr MacSharry said: "What you're implying is, we enter the
system we set it up, it did a lot of good work and there were
some casualties.

"That's the implications of what you are saying."

Mr O'Brien replied to the deputy saying: "You need to step


back."

However, Mr MacSharry said: "In fairness Mr O'Brien, none of


this is personal Mr O'Brien, but we do have to hold people to
account and there is zero accountability, it seems to me."

"How is your position tenable?"

Mr O'Brien said question was based on a presumption that an


action had been taken that led to the diagnosis, and claimed
that it is far from established.

He said that, while it is clearly "always very tragic" when any


young person is terminally diagnosed with cancer, the reason
for a screening programme is to limit the number of such
cases, but it cannot eliminate them.
Mr O'Brien said: "Your question is based on a fundamental
premise that this has arisen because of the cervical screening
programme, and I don't accept that is a reality.

"There is a review process… I think it is wrong to jump to


conclusions in advance of that process."

She was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2016 and was told it had spread to her
bones

I'm relieved that she is protected - HPV


Vaccine
https://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=vgE89Z84X5k
A Kildare man who lost his wife to cervical cancer has said he
feels "robbed".

John's wife died of cervical cancer on April 7, 2009, and he said


"she was putting up one hell of a fight for her life".

Last week, he received a call asking him to come to Tallaght


Hospital to discuss the results that had shown up on one of his
late wife's smear tests.

This morning on RTÉ Radio One's 'Today with Sean O'Rourke'


programme, John told Sean that in 2009 the test came back as
being all clear, and now he was being told that it actually was
not.

In a previous test, John's wife had a test that did show


abnormalities which resulted in her having a lletz procedure.

In January 2009, John's wife had a post-pregnancy smear test


which showed as all clear.

In May 2009, she began to hemorrhage on a holiday. When


they returned from holiday, they visited their GP to see what
had happened.

During the summer, they waited on a colposcopy, but in


September she hemorrhaged so bad that she was admitted to
hospital. She had collapsed and lost a lot of blood.

In December 2009, John and his wife went to Tallaght hospital


where she was told that there was a tumour. She lived 16
months after her diagnosis.

John said: "We tried to remain positive over the Christmas


period in 2009."

Her gynaecologist told her that she was not going to die.

She was told that treatment would start straight away in


January, "and so began the battle then", John said.

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.

As a mother of five children, John said it was horrific that the


kids would ask "if their mam was going to die".

John told Sean about how she worried about not being
remembered.

She said 'I'm not going to be around, is he going to remember


me?'

He said: "And the thing is, he doesn't remember her, he was


only two when she passed."

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.

John said: "I feel anger, I have a constant sense of being


robbed."

He went on to say that Tony O'Brien is incompetent and that


he should be removed immediately, saying: "there's going to
be more devastating news as the rest of the year goes on".

John's solicitor, Damien Tansey, spoke on the programme


saying that they will be suing the HSE, the entity operating the
cervical smear programme and the lab in the US.
You can listen to the full interview below.

https://cf-
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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.

Tony O’Brien, director general of the HSE, said while he “hopes


there will be strong competition for my post, I have my doubts
at this stage”.
He said the role essentially left one person “accountable for the
mistakes” of hundreds of thousands.
For fear would-be candidates are put off applying for Mr
O’Brien’s well-paid job, Jim Breslin, Department of Health
secretary general, said it was “the most meaningful and
impactful role any public servant can have”.
“I believe there are people who would find it absolutely
rewarding,” he said.
Besides, the successful candidate would have a €10.9bn
budget to play with and a fully-funded Sláintecare reform plan
— and anyone who had the good of the public sector at heart
“will be attracted”, said Mr Breslin.
Mr O’Brien is due to end his tenure in July, despite being
repeatedly called upon to resign immediately in the wake of
the CervicalCheck scandal.
The scandal emerged during a court case taken by Vicky
Phelan who now has terminal cancer and who was not told an
earlier smear test had failed to detect abnormalities.
Fine Gael TD Kate O’Connell asked whether Mr O’Brien had
ever, during his six-year tenure, told the Department of Health
that the job was too big for one person.
“Is there any correspondence where he indicates it is not
possible for one person to do his job?” she asked. “He did apply
for it, he did get it.”
“In light of spending six years in the job, it seems a little bit
confusing at this point in the conversation,” said O’Connell.
Fianna Fáil TD John Brassil as Mr O’Brien “doubted whether
there’d be much interest in taking up his role because of the
difficulties of the job — it would be nice to know if there’s been
take-up”.
He said there should be a succession system in place to ensure
posts weren’t left vacant for long.
Health Minister Simon Harris said there had been work done
with the Public Appointments Service with a view to placing
advertisements shortly.
Mr O’Brien told the health committee yesterday that he was
“opposed to the way the HSE was created”.
“I think the creation of the HSE, despite many good things
going on, was an exercise in how not to do change
management,” he said.
Mr O’Brien said he was appointed to an organisation, in 2012,
“that was to be wound down” after the abolition of its board in
2011, but within two or three years “it became clear that wasn’t
going to happen”.
“Six years on, we’ve abolished a board that we are now
recreating. That’s not good progress,” he said.
Mr Harris told the committee he intended to shortly bring
forward legislative proposals to provide for the appointment of
a new HSE board.

rvical cancer screening scandal.

HSE boss Tony O’Brien told the Oireachtas health committee


yesterday it was “not the minister’s fault” that, a week after
the scandal broke, Health Minister Simon Harris had to come
back to the Dáil with substantially different figures on the
number of women diagnosed with cancer since 2008.
“The issue here was that the information given was that the
audit related to the totality of cases when it didn’t. The
minister was briefed incorrectly and it’s a very serious issue and
it’s not the minister’s fault,” Mr O’Brien said.
Asked by Labour health spokesman Alan Kelly how long
CervicalCheck knew it didn’t have the totality of cases from the
NCR, Mr O’Brien said: “I think they always knew.”
Failure to reconcile CervicalCheck and NCR data meant the
HSE initially said, on April 26, that 1,482 cases of cervical
cancer had been diagnosed since its screening programme
began in 2008. Days later, it emerged it was double that
number.
The HSE has yet to quantify the number of women in the
second cohort who have had their screening history audited.
An audit of the screening history of the first cohort found 162
women were not told earlier smears were incorrectly read and
175 had care delayed because of false negatives. Seventeen
women have died.
Mr O’Brien said it was “clear there was knowledge in
CervicalCheck that it was not receiving NCR data”.
He said the issue emerged when “it became evident to the
serious incident management team that the number of cases
audited by the screening programme varied from the number
of cases of cervical cancer reported to the NCR over the same
period.
“The [team] immediately took action, escalating this matter to
the director general.”
He said this would result in the NCR “being mandated to share
its data with the programme”, the lists being reconciled, and
an “immediate audit of these remaining cases being
undertaken”.
He said the data protection issue “had been overcome”.
Mr Kelly said: “How we came to a situation where the
screening programme didn’t get all the data, and had gone on
for years and years, is bizarre and we need to establish the
facts.”
The Irish Examiner subsequently asked the HSE why it put the
figure of 1,482 into the public domain if it knew it didn’t have
the full data. The HSE said the figure was the totality of cases
notified to it. It said these cases had not been notified through
the NCR. Asked to clarify who did notify these cases to
CervicalCheck, the HSE said “all these matters will be subject
to the scoping inquiry”.
That inquiry is part of the Government response to the
CervicalCheck scandal which emerged from the court case of
Vicky Phelan. Ms Phelan was given incorrect smear test results
and developed terminal cancer.

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

we should be organising a march for these


Brave Courage’s Woman who are going to die
because of HSE and Government who Failed
these Brave Woman and tried to cover up their
crimes and murder and Corruption and it was all
illegal and wrong and then USA lab Private
company and HSE try to gag the women with a
Silence Clause deal, it is a total disgrace, Us
Woman shouldn't take this lying down we
should be all on the streets like we Did with the
Water charges and the rapist rugby boys who
walked free, us Women should be all protesting
on the streets, Why are we Not protesting for
these great brave woman, SF, PBP, FF, FG, LB
and GP and IND Alliance all Shower of wankers
in the Dial who did not come out and protest
against these murdering perpetrators in HSE
and The Dial TDS FG, FF, PD, SF and GP were
all sitting in the dial at the Time, This Is The
Worse Scandal in years since the Child Abuse
vaccine and Residential abuse Scandal abuse,
this was also abuse on every woman in Ireland,
illegally using our DNA Smear Test in a Private
Lab in USA in Breach of our Data and DNA by
passing our DNA onto other firms we did not
consent to this or we did not sign any
agreement to allow others to use our smear
DNA, what if it got into the wrong hands, we
could be easily framed from our smear DNA i
never trusted USA, they are the worse peopled
not to be trusted, the irish woman were not
aware of this, i am going to look into this further
as something here is not right they fucked up
the woman tests by sharing them around to
other companies before they were contacted
this is the worse Since we have joined EU all
our Data, privacy and health, and Housing and
Education has all gone down hill and got worse,
we need to Erexit EU now
It may look like Fianna Fail actually care but they do not care at all about what you think.
If they did then they wouldn't wait for O'Brien to "respectfully" vacate his post nor would
they wait for Simon Harris to fire him (which he has no intention of doing).

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...

I am Afraid Sinn Fein Disagrees with you


https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/doherty-tony-o-brien-should-absolutely-stay-in-
position-1.3487826

IS SINN FEIN FOR REAL FUCKING TRAITORS AGAINST WOMAN PEARSE O


DOHERTY FUCKING WANKER

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/

Corruption in the innermost circle.

( 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

Tony O'Brien has stepped


down as HSE Director amid
cervical cancer scandal
O’Brien had been the head of the health service since July 2013.
May 10, 18

Tony O'Brien with Minister for Health Simon Harris


Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie
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.
In a statement this evening, O’Brien said he has made his
decision to avoid any further impact to the delivery of health
and social care services, “and in particular the cancer
screening services that have become the focus of intense
political debate in recent days”.
A HSE statement said: “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.”
In a statement, Minister for Health Simon Harris said he
wanted to thank O’Brien for his “many years of service and
dedication”.
He said: “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.
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.
Pressure had been mounting on O’Brien over the course of
the day, after a memo released to the Public Accounts
Committee shows that HSE management was warned back
in 2016 that there could be negative media coverage about
the CervicalCheck audit.
The briefing note from July 2016, which was seen by Tony
O’Brien, said that “all international screening programmes
will have encountered a media headline that ‘screening did
not diagnose my cancer’”. It said that the CervicalCheck
programe was prepared for such media coverage.
O’Brien told the Public Accounts Committee this morning
that the message did not “ring alarm bells”.
Emma Mhic Mhathúna, a mother of five children, spoke on
RTE’s Morning Ireland earlier today about how a delayed
cervical cancer diagnoses was uncovered in a recent review
by the HSE. She was told this week that her cancer has
returned and is terminal.
She said her family is devastated by the news.
The CervicalCheck scandal came into the public eye last
month when Vicky Phelan, whose cervical cancer is also
terminal, settled a High Court action against the HSE and
Clinical Pathology Laboratories for €2.5 million over
incorrect smear test results from 2011.
More information has continued to emerge about the
controversy whereby women were told that they had normal
smear test results in error. It has since emerged that more
than 1,500 women who developed cervical cancer did not
have their cases reviewed by CervicalCheck.

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

How is stepping down being held accountable?


He’s holding himself responsible, at the very least. Sure it would’ve been preferrable
if he was sacked, but the public of Ireland only organises a sizeable public outcry
when they’re charged for water usage.

No one talking about proper reform of HSE

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

Emotional Vicky Phelan talks to Ray about CervicalCheck scandal


Vicky told Ray D’Arcy on his RTE chat show that she had been previously told that
three women who were initially given the all-clear after having smear tests later
developed cervical cancer and died.

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.

Vicky Phelan on Clinical Director's


Resignation | The Ray D'Arcy Show | RTÉ
One
Published on Apr 28, 2018
As she tells Ray about her recent court action Vicky Phelan reacts to new just in
that the Clinical Director of CervicalCheck, Dr Gráinne Flannelly is to resign.
Watch The Ray D’Arcy Show live and on-demand from anywhere in the world at
http://www.rte.ie/player The Ray D’Arcy Show | Saturday | RTÉ One, After the
Main Evening News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=O7ZOXLGbK-k
Considerable time and research was given to the choice of laboratories that were
selected in an open competitive process, that are subject to a rigorous quality
assurance (QA) process.
“One of the reasons – amongst many – that the smear samples were outsourced was
due to an insufficient number of accredited Irish laboratories, which posed a
significant QA issue.
“In relation to the grading system, it is important to note that the classification system
chosen by Ireland is the one that is recommended by the World Health Organisation
and is widely used successfully by many other countries.”

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

Full interview: Emma


Mhic Mhathúna
Updated / Thursday, 10 May 2018

Emma Mhic Mhathúna has five children

Emma Mhic Mhathúna was told in 2013 that her


smear test was clear, but it wasn't. She has now
been told she is dying of cancer. She spoke to
Morning Ireland's Audrey Carville this morning.
07:29
I learned this week that I’m dying and that the cancer
is discovered in my bones and everything, so I have
a test on Friday to see exactly how long I’ve left.
And who told you this devastating news?
My GP.
And Emma, did you think you’d be clear, did you
hope you’d be clear?
I hoped I’d be clear, but I had a feeling that I was... I
had a feeling I had cancer again, because I’d had it
before. But I didn’t think it would be terminal.
Have you told your children?
I have, yeah.
And how are they? You’ve a very young family.
Devastated. I’m crying thinking about it. It was the
hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, because as a
mother it’s my job to protect them and to keep the
bad news away from them. And we’d such a good
day on the confirmation like, my results were ready
on Tuesday but I didn’t want to get them because it
was their confirmation. And then I had to collect them
from school early and tell them that I’m dying and it’s
just a horrible thing to witness to be honest, there’s
so much pain in the house.
Is there any treatment, anything left that you can do?
They’ll know more when they get the results on
Friday. But all the doctors, the gynaecologist, the
oncologist, my GP; I’ve such a fabulous team, I’m in
good care in that sense, you know? So if there’s
anything available they’ll find it.
And Emma you had just found out that you had a
smear test in 2013 which you thought was normal,
but it wasn’t, but you never knew that?
No. No. The 2013 smear said that I was healthy
when I wasn’t. And because of that then I actually
developed cancer. And now I’m dying. And if the
smear test was right, and I was told this by my
gynaecologist, who is over three hospitals, so he
knows his stuff, this guy is amazing, he told me
himself, that if my smear test was right in 2013 I
wouldn’t be where I am today.
And this is what makes it so heartbreaking. 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. I
tried to do everything right, by, you know,
breastfeeding, and being a full-time mum, and
sacrificing, you know, my own life for them. I didn’t
see it as a sacrifice and now I’m going to miss out.
And I don’t even know if my little baby is going to
remember me.
And what just makes this whole situation so sick is
that the Government aren’t doing anything about it.
And when it first broke out I was like ‘OK, well, the
head of the HSE is surely going to do something’,
and he didn’t. And then I looked to Simon Harris, I
was thinking ‘Well surely the Minister for Health is
going to step in and do something’, that’s why we
give these people powers, and he didn’t do anything.
So then I was like ‘Surely the Taoiseach is going to
do something!’ And he just seems to be sticking up
for them. And they’re all hiding there in the Dáil and
they don’t see what I see.
And there’s women that are dead and they’re not just
any women, they’re people’s daughters and they’re
mammies and all the children are in so much pain.
And my stance on it is I think the only person that can
do something on it now is the President, and I never
actually thought I’d say something like that in a
country, in 2018, in Ireland. Because the Government
need to go , they’re not actually – and I’m not being
insulting, it’s genuine – they’re not actually capable of
minding us, and that is their job. To make sure that
we’re OK.
I’m dying and I didn’t even need to die, and I’m only
37. Last night I was in bed and I was having this
really bad dream. I dreamt that I was dying last night
and I wasn’t ready because I hadn’t said goodbye to
my children and in my dream I was trying to ring 999
but I couldn’t pick up the phone. So in my dream I
had gone in to Natasha, she sleeps across the
landing, and I was trying to wake her up so that I
could say goodbye to her because I hadn’t said
goodbye. And then I woke up and I was like ‘Thank
God I haven’t died yet because I want to say
goodbye to them.’ And this isn’t fair. And no amount
of money can replace this. I know which of my
children like butter, and which of them need time out
when they’re getting tired, and all the fun stuff we do
together. We have such good fun the six of us.
And I moved all the way down here to Ballydavid
because it’s such a fantastic place, and all my
children are boys and it’s really like Enid Blyton down
here; they go climbing on the rocks and they go
camping in the fields and they’re so safe, and they
build sandcastles, and that’s all being taken away
from them. And yesterday I had to sit down with the
teachers and I was like ‘What are we going to do?’
Do you understand what I mean?
https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/0510/962484-emma-mhic-mhathuna-interview/
Fianna Fail Spokesperson Stephen Donnelly Speaks To Eamon about how to reform
the HSE May 2018 cervical smear check scandal and 17 women died

https://soundcloud.com/wlrfmwaterford/fianna-fail-spokesperson-stephen-
donnelly-speaks-to-eamon

thanks for you work on a difficult period


In a statement by the HSE, Mr O’Brien said that
he has made his decision in order to avoid any
further impact to the delivery of health and social
care services, and in particular the cancer
screening services that have become the focus
of intense political debate in recent days.
He said, 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.
Mr O’Brien said that he looks forward to
engaging with the Review and that he will
cooperate fully with Professor Scally and his
team in this work.

The HSE no longer has a director general as Tony O’Brien announces


resignation on Thursday evening
Mr O’Brien said he has been proud to lead the
health services and the many staff who have
worked tirelessly and with great dedication to
provide health and social care services in a very
challenging environment.
He emphasised that he remains deeply
committed to health reform in Ireland and in
particular the full implementation of the Slainte
Care Report. He emphasised his fullest support
for Minister Harris in this regard.
Minister Harris thanked Mr O’Brien for his ‘many
years of service’ with the health service.

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.

A memo prepared for HSE director general Tony


O’Brien in 2016 warned that the CervicalCheck
audit could potentially attract negative headlines.
The briefing note, released to the Public
Accounts Committee today, states: ‘all
international screening programmes will have
encountered a media headline that “screening
did not diagnose my cancer”‘.

It said that the cervical screening programme


was prepared for such media coverage and
‘communications materials’ had been drawn up
to counter a potential backlash.
3
Director general of the HSE, Tony O’Brien, has refused to step down from
his position in the wake of the smear test scandal. Pic: Gareth Chaney
Collins
The first memo, from March 2016, notes that
cervical ‘screening is not 100pc accurate and
cannot give a “yes” or “no” answer and a
negative screening result does not mean that
cancer won’t develop in the future’.
It states that the outcomes of the audit process
showed that while the majority of cancers were
detected ‘as early as possible through cervical
screening, not all cancers were prevented’.
It also says that CervicalCheck initiated an audit
process in 2010 and said, as of March 2016, the
process was approaching the stage of
communicating individual case reports.

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.

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8mins ago

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Taoiseach and Health Minister


weren't made aware of HSE
'memo' on CervicalCheck
HSE Director General Tony O’Brien has stepped down this evening.
May 9th 2018
HSE boss Tony O'Brien
Image: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland
Updated 9.10pm
A MEMO to HSE director general Tony O’Brien about the
CervicalCheck audit warned there could be negative media
coverage following the issuing of letters to doctors.
The July 2016 briefing note states
that the CervicalCheck programme was prepared for such
media coverage and “communications materials” had been
drawn up to counter such a kickback against the
organisation.
The note states that the outcomes of the audit process
showed that while the majority of cancers were detected “as
early as possible through cervical screening, not all cancers
were prevented”.
It said it communications strategy would “ensure
transparent, effective and robust communications processes
are in place” so as to provide “clear information for the
media and the public where appropriate on
the CervicalCheck Clinical audit process and results”.
It also points out that “all international screening
programmes will have encountered a media headline that
‘screening did not diagnose my cancer”.
In a statement this evening, the Department of Health said
that this memo was not brought to the attention of Minister
for Health Simon Harris.
The department said in a statement: “The Department is
currently examining the records in relation to
CervicalCheck. A full discovery will be undertaken and all
documents will be made available to the Scoping Inquiry to
inform its considerations.
The HSE shared a number of documents in relation to the
CervicalCheck clinical audit with the Department, including
the memos made available to the PAC today. However,
nothing so far has been identified that changes our basic
assertion that the fact of clinical audit being undertaken and
arrangements being made to disclose to patients in this
regard were positive features of CervicalCheck.
Similarly, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar wasn’t made aware of the
memo. It is understood that his last remark on this specific
matter to the Dáil remains the case.
He said on 1 May: “I was never informed of any patient
safety concern or potential scandal relating to CervicalCheck
and certainly not the outcome of any audit such as this. I
have asked officials in the Department to check that for me
in case my recollection was incorrect.”
With the intervention of Harris and Varadkar to say they
weren’t aware of the memo, pressure increased on O’Brien
to resign, which he has done this evening.
A Cabinet meeting scheduled to take place in Monaghan
tomorrow has been cancelled, and will take place in Dublin
instead. It is understood that Independent Minister Finian
McGrath would have reiterated his call for O’Brien to go at
Cabinet tomorrow.
Sinn Féin tabled a motion of no confidence in O’Brien that
was due to be heard next week and, this evening, Fianna Fáil
health spokesperson Stephen Donnelly said that his party
would have backed the motion.
Stephen Donnelly
@DonnellyStephen

We've recently had sight of next week's motion, calling on


Minister Harris to remove the HSE Director General.
Fianna Fáil will support this motion, and reiterate that we
call on the DG to step down immediately.
7:28 PM - May 10, 2018

 52

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Source: Stephen Donnelly/Twitter
‘Alarm bells’
Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) this
morning, O’Brien insisted the message did not “ring alarm
bells”.
O’Brien said the memo issued to him in July 2016 outlined a
“communications protocol” in relation to the review of
smear tests.
• You can view the memo here.
The CervicalCheck scandal came into the public eye last
month when Vicky Phelan, who has received a terminal
cervical cancer diagnosis, settled a High Court action against
the HSE and Clinical Pathology Laboratories for €2.5
million over incorrect smear test results from 2011.
More information has continued to emerge about the
controversy whereby women were told that they had normal
smear test results in error. It has since emerged that more
than 1,500 women who developed cervical cancer did not
have their cases reviewed by CervicalCheck.
Informing treating clinicians
The memo states that in February 2016, CervicalCheck
began telling treating doctors the outcome of the audit.
It states that some laboratories (that review the smear tests)
raised concerns about CervicalCheck telling doctors about
the audit outcomes and there had been legal correspondence
sent. A meeting was set up to deal with the matter in May
2016 and the legal issue ceased.
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.

‘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.

Compensation bill for victims of cervical cancer


scandal could reach €500m as inquiry due to be
set up
A scoping inquiry, which is a prelude to a
commission of inquiry, is being set up with the
first priority to process the audits of all 3,000
women caught up in the controversy
52
 SHARES

ByPat FlanaganFerghal Blaney


• 23:21, 2 MAY 2018

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.

It was confirmed that a scoping inquiry, which is a prelude to a commission of


inquiry, is being set up with the first priority to process the audits of all 3,000 women
caught up in the cancer controversy.

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.

HSE Director General Tony O'Brien


He said: “I do not have many months left in my role.. consequently I intend to devote
the greater part of those weeks to addressing these issues.”

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.”

Earlier Mr Varadkar told the Dail a restitution initiative will be launched.

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.

He added: “We are going to ask a team of expert international cytopathologists to


carry out a clinical review and to look again at the smears of all the women who were
diagnosed with cancer in the past 10 years.

“We do not have the exact figure but it is between 2,000 and 3,000.”

However, despite his new promises of action, Mr Varadkar continued to face a


barrage of criticism in the Dail.

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.

“Calm, competent authority is required in response to this crisis. Confidence in the


cervical cancer screening programme is being undermined and women are fearful and
worried across the country.

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.

Ms McDonald again urged the Taoiseach to sack Mr O’Brien as director general of


the HSE.

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.

“It was deliberately concealed from them by the HSE.

“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

Varadkar: 'I was never told


about CervicalCheck scandal
when I was health minister'
The Taoiseach said he could not rule out a commission of investigation
into the controversy in the future.
May 1st 2018, 6:29 PM 22,689 Views 98 Comments
Share172 Tweet Email

Minister for Health, Simon Harris and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.


Image: Eamonn Farrell
TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has said he was never
informed about a potential scandal relating to CervicalCheck
while he was health minister.
Speaking during Leaders’ Questions today, he said
on various occasions during his two years as minister for
health he was informed of major patient safety incidents,
such as concerns surrounding bowel screening in the south-
east.
However, he said he has no recollection of being informed
about issues surrounding the cervical cancer audit. Varadkar
served as health minster from 2014-2016.
“I was never informed of any patient safety concern or
potential scandal relating to CervicalCheck and certainly not
the outcome of any audit such as this. I have asked officials
in the department to check that for me in case my
recollection is incorrect,” he added.
Double-checking
The Secretary General of the Department of Health is
commencing a scrutiny of records in the department,
TheJournal.ie understands.
A government spokesperson said for the Taoiseach to be
“entirely certain” that he was never told about the matter,
officials are checking the files. It is unclear whether this will
take days or weeks.
A plan for a Hiqa investigation into the screening
programme was approved by Cabinet this morning.
This follows confirmation from the HSE that 17 women
whose cases were reviewed as part of an audit into the
scheme have died.
In total, the probe carried out by the HSE’s Serious Incident
Management Team has found that, of the 208 cervical
smear result cases being scrutinised, only 46 women were
told about the history of their smear tests.
Today, Varadkar said he cannot rule out a commission of
investigation into the CervicalCheck scandal in the future.
The Hiqa inquiry, approved today, follows on from Vicky
Phelan’s court case last week.
The Limerick mother-of-two had a smear test in 2011 where
abnormalities were missed. She wasn’t informed until last
year despite the information coming to light following a
2014 audit.
Last Thursday, 43-year-old Phelan settled a High Court
damages claim for €2.5 million over her missed diagnosis.
The controversy has been causing shockwaves since last
week.
Commission of investigation
The Taoiseach acknowledged that a commission of inquiry
might be an alternative to the Hiqa investigation, but
pointed out it could delay the findings.
I cannot rule out that being necessary in the future.
However, I would point out that commissions of inquiry
take a long time. It is three years, for example, since the
commission of inquiry on the Grace case was announced.
The Siteserv inquiry could go on for many years. One thing
Vicky Phelan has said – I think she is right – is that she does
not want an inquiry that goes on for years and years.
A report could be received by a future government perhaps.
What we want is an inquiry that gives us answers quickly.
The risk with a commission of inquiry, of course, is that
everyone goes legal and lawyers up and it take years and
years before we get a report, with probably no answers at the
end of that. That is why I am calling for the co-operation of
the House in supporting the Hiqa inquiry, which we believe
will get answers quickly, and, if not, then we will consider a
commission.
Varadkar said he is “personally very angry” the women were
not informed
“They should have been informed. It is their health, their
lives, their families and they had a right to know,” he said.
I am Taoiseach, a doctor and I am also the brother of two
sisters and I know a lot of women are afraid today. The 160
women who know that they have cervical cancer but who
may not have been told about their previous false smear test
result will be told that today if they have not been told
already. They will be offered an individual appointment this
week so that their clinical case can be discussed.
Varadkar added that he is cognisant that some falsehoods
may be circulating in terms of whether cancer diagnoses
were missed.
Reassuring women
He said he wanted to reassure women that “nobody is
walking around today with a 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 details
were made public. The correspondence told the minister
that the Vicky Phelan case was not a patient safety incident.
The fallout from the CervicalCheck controversy has resulted
in calls for the HSE boss, Tony O’Brien, to resign. Sinn
Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald rounded on the chief executive
today, stating that his position is untenable.
O’Brien was one of the key figures who oversaw the roll out
of the CervicalCheck programme and the outsourcing of the
tests to the US in 2008.
A spokesperson for the Taoiseach said this evening that
Varadkar has confidence in the HSE chief.
“There is an assertion that the decision to outsource these
tests to the US in 2008 somehow cost lives. I explained why
that is not yet supported by the facts. Everyone, even Mr
Tony O’Brien, deserves a fair hearing before being
condemned. We need to assess whether that decision was
wrong. It may turn out not to be wrong. We need to
be fair about it in that regard,” said Varadkar.

http://www.thejournal.ie/varadkar-cervicalcheck-3988626-May2018/

HSE boss Tony O'Brien to


leave position early
There had been calls for O’Brien to step down.
May 10, 18

Image: Mark Stedman via RollingNews.ie


HSE DIRECTOR GENERAL Tony O’Brien is to leave his role
at the beginning of July, it emerged today.
O’Brien, who has been at the centre of the cervical check
scandal, will step down four weeks earlier than expected.
Junior Health Minister Jim Daly told RTÉ’s The Week in
Politics that O’Brien’s leaving was not down to the scandal
but was instead due to him using up his annual leave
entitlements.
On Friday, Sinn Féin published its motion of no confidence
in O’Brien. In addition, Fianna Fáil’s health spokesperson
Stephen Donnelly said that his party is also calling on him to
resign with immediate effect.
The HSE confirmed this week that 17 women whose cases
were reviewed as part of an audit into the CervicalCheck
controversy have died. It has not been determined if their
deaths were due to delayed diagnoses. These women were
among 208 whose original smear test results differed when
reviewed again.
The woman whose case brought this scandal to light, Vicky
Phelan, has already singled out O’Brien and said that he
should resign. Last week she was awarded €2.5 million over
incorrect smear test results from 2011.

@DrMartinDaly
FollowFollow @DrMartinDaly

Specific reasons should be given why politicians


are “ shafting” @dghealthservice .Was
#CervicalCheck less efficient than comparable
screening programmes internationally. Was he
implicated in decision not to inform patients
about #CervicalCheck?
http://www.thejournal.ie/hse-tony-obrien-3997436-May2018/

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