HSE confirms cervical deaths in the west

Some of the women who have died whose smear tests should have indicated earlier intervention are from the west, the region’s top HSE official stated this week.

Chief officer of community healthcare west Tony Canavan stressed the CervicalCheck scandal did not result in a delayed diagnosis for any woman.

He explained at this week’s Regional Health Forum West that when a patient is diagnosed with cervical cancer, audits are conducted on previous smears to ascertain whether potential markers were missed. These audits are performed to ensure screening quality is maintained.

In 209 cases, re-analysis suggested prior smears could have yielded different results. The audits took place after cancer diagnosis. So far 17 of those women have died, nearly all before being told about the audit.

A total of 207 women had been contacted about their previous smear test and offered counselling, a medical card and the reimbursement of medical expenses.

There had been a “very serious, very significant breakdown in communication”, Mr Canavan said.

“They should have been told the audit was happening and the outcome of the audit.”

“The HSE apologises very sincerely to the women involved and to women across the country who are understandably frightened and concerned about what they are hearing.”

While CervicalCheck cannot detect all cancers and cannot always detect pre-cancerous changes, it remains the best way of identifying early signs of cervical cancer, he stressed.

So far CervicalCheck has detected over 50,000 pre-cancerous changes in women, reducing their cancer risk by more than 90%.

Under questioning from councillors, he revealed some of the 17 women audited who had died are from the west region. But he would not identify which counties they were from for reasons of confidentiality.

Ennis Councillor Ann Norton said the HSE’s apology was a little bit too late. “Women are dying because of the HSE’s negligence…the fact that it took a woman [Vicky Phelan] going to court to push the HSE into action is dysfunctional. I do not believe the HSE is fit for purpose.”

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.