Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 31 May 2018
149. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if CervicalCheck or the HSE have now contacted all of the 209 women or their families who were included in the CervicalCheck audit; the supports and services which will be available to these persons; and when they will be notified in this regard [24197/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has advised that as of 25 May, 207 of the 209 women, or their next of kin, have been contacted. Efforts are ongoing to contact the remaining two but the HSE has advised that some patients have not been contactable for a number of reasons e.g. they are abroad or their contact details have changed.
The Government agreed a comprehensive package of health and social care measures to support the 209 women who have been diagnosed with cervical cancer and whose audit result differed from their original smear test, and their families. These measures include:
- the provision of a discretionary medical card for each woman affected, or their next-of-kin in cases where the woman has, sadly, died;
- meeting of out-of-pocket medical costs incurred;
- the provision of primary care supports, including counselling, to the women affected;
- the provision of counselling services, including bereavement counselling where appropriate, to the immediate family members of these women; and
- the provision of other health and social care supports, including travel costs and child minding, where appropriate.
The HSE has appointed a central national co-ordinator to lead this service response and local liaison contacts have been appointed to link with the women and their families.
As of 28 May, 188 contacts had been made with those affected, and 75 meetings had been held to discuss people’s needs. A further 44 meetings had been scheduled. It is important to note that in those instances where it has not been possible to make direct contact, it is often the case that a message (or messages) have been left for the individual concerned. In these circumstances, it is important that we allow women and families to contact the HSE in their own time and on their own terms.
