Cervical Check, HSE & Dept. of Health representatives due before Health Committee over ongoing controversy

The Committee will meet at 2.30pm in Committee Room 3, Leinster House, to discuss issues surrounding the Cervical Check Programme with:

• Representatives from Health Service Executive (HSE)
• Officials from Dept. of Health
• Representatives from Cervical Check
• Representatives from National Cancer Control Programme

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Chair, Dr. Michael Harty TD said “Cervical Check cancer screening programme is a very important potentially lifesaving programme for early cervical cancer detection. This programme needs to have the highest possible standards in sample collect, examination and result communication. The Committee is gravely concerned that errors in sample examination have led to delays in diagnosis, resulting in avoidable deaths and poorer outcomes for patients. That these errors in diagnosis were not communicated to patients at the earliest opportunity by Cervical Check is unacceptable and contradictory to a policy of open disclosure. The Committee has called this meeting to demand accountability regarding why Cervical Check has failed these women and to establish what actions are immediately necessary to restore confidence in Cervical screening.”

Prior to this, at 9am, the Committee will meet to discuss:

Medical Consultants who are not on the Specialist Register with:

• Representatives from Medical Council
• Representatives from Health Service Executive (HSE) Human Resources
• Representatives from Irish Hospital Consultant Association (IHCA)
• Representatives from Irish Medical Organisation (IMO)

On this, Dr. Michael Harty TD added,“ The appointment of doctors who have not completed special training programmes to positions of Consultant status in both public and private hospitals is of grave concern due to patient safety issues. The Medical Council had identified over 650 doctors working as consultants who are not on the specialist register. This issue has been again highlighted by the President of the High Court in a recent fitness to practice case. The public are at risk when doctors do not have the necessary qualifications to hold consultant positions. The HSE and ultimately the tax payer has to pay the price if patients suffer injury. The Committee will examine the underlying manpower issues that have led to this situation and explore what actions need to be taken to ensure that all consultant posts are occupied by doctors who are competent and have completed specialist training.”

Separately the Committee will examine:

• Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (Section 95(3)) (Variation of Title: Dietician) Regulations 2018
Officials from Dept. of Health

• Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (Section 95(3)) (Variation of Title: Speech Therapist) Regulations 2018
Officials from Dept. of Health

Watch the meeting live here