Clare’s independent TD is renewing his call for the Government to begin the process of setting up a national laboratory for cervical testing in light of the latest scandal surrounding the programme.
The publication of a ‘rapid review’ into CervicalCheck found over 4,000 women had delayed test results communicated to them due to an IT glitch at a US lab.
The Taoiseach and Minister for Health are today meeting patient representatives, to discuss how the State might formally apologise for overall CervicalCheck failures.
The meeting follows the publication of yesterday’s Rapid Review report, which found that in 3200 cases, results were issued to doctors but not to the women affected.
A communications systems failure also saw 800 HPV re test results by the US based Quest Lab left unsent to either the women or their GPs.
Chair of the Oireachtas Health Committee, Clare TD Dr Michael Harty says this latest report supports the case for investing in a national laboratory to stop the outsourcing of cervical screening.
As the controversy continues, a Labour TD says he believes that the relationship between the Department of Health and patient advocates has now broken down.
Deputy Alan Kelly, says the Health Minister Simon Harris must now take action.
