Cancer misdiagnosis claims probed
Updated on 24 September 2008
An independent probe is to be carried out into services at Ennis General Hospital in Ireland which allegedly failed to diagnose breast cancer in the cases of at least two women who have since died from the disease.
The families of Edel Kelly, 26 and Ann Moriarty, 53, went public in recent weeks to demand investigations into the deaths of the two women in April and June respectively. Ms Harney also revealed that another possible case of delayed diagnosis was under the spotlight at the Co Clare hospital.
The minister made an unscheduled appearance in the Dail to announce that the Health Information & Quality Authority (Hiqa) will carry out an independent review of services at Ennis General Hospital.
"The review will examine the operation of services at Ennis General Hospital, including issues relating to the diagnosis and treatment of patients and the approach to communications within the hospital," she said.
The exact terms of reference will be finalised soon and Ms Harney wants the review be completed within three months. All cancer care services at Ennis have now been suspended and transferred to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick.
The minister said the HSE was also putting in place a specific referral process for cancer care patients if they have concerns about their health.
Fine Gael's Co Clare TD Pat Breen said: "Women in Co Clare are extremely worried at the moment about what has happened at Ennis General Hospital."
Opposition health spokesman Dr James Reilly added: "Irish people are entitled to know that their loved ones are looked after properly by the health service."
Ms Harney replied that errors unfortunately occur in the best health services in the world.
Labour health spokeswoman Jan O'Sullivan welcomed the review, but said it should not lead to a downgrade of Ennis General Hospital.
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