Hospital ‘unaware’ of woman’s cancer history

A MEMBER of the Health Service Executive who was told she couldn’t be screened for breast cancer until April 15, 2008, had an operation for ovarian cancer in February 2001 at the same hospital, it emerged yesterday.

Aileen Pyne, a 57-year-old former teacher and member of the HSE Southern Forum, said she was surprised that the South Infirmary/Victoria Hospital in Cork was reportedly not aware of her medical history.

She made the comment yesterday after the hospital issued a statement claiming a letter of referral from her GP for a mammogram didn’t specify her previous history of cancer.