Health Committee continues hearings on Cervical Check controversy

Officials from Department of Health and representatives from the HSE and Cervical Check will attend the meeting.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Chair, Dr. Michael Harty TD said: “The Committee has already met with officials from the Department of Health and representatives from the HSE, the National Cancer Control Programme and CervicalCheck to discuss the controversial issues surrounding the CervicalCheck programme. However, we are still very concerned about continuing controversy and ongoing revelations in relation to the programme. Therefore we have asked for the HSE, the Department and Cervical Check to return to give further clarification on the evolving scandal in the Cervical Check, including the processes surrounding Open Disclosure, the quality of the screening programme and the impact this has on the medical care of women. Issues of concern are outsourcing, the frequency and quality of testing, the governance of the cervical screening programme, responsibility and transparency. The failure of open disclosure of false negatives to patients is very worrying and the current controversy is undermining the entire screening programme. Tomorrow we will be seeking clarifications in relation to the service to reassure women and try to restore credibility in the service.”

The meeting will take place at 9am in Committee Room 3, Leinster House.

Committee proceedings can be viewed live here.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.