Panel to probe cancer testing

AN eight-person investigation team has been given its terms of reference to establish why test results given to a breast cancer patient were wrong.

Last night the Health Information and Quality Authority charged the panel with finding out why breast checks examined at University College Hospital Galway could no longer be trusted and what the risks are to current and future patients.

The team will be headed by British doctor Mike Durkin who is medical director of the South-West Strategic Health Authority in England.

The authority has asked the team to probe the quality and standards employed at University College Hospital Galway and particularly the care given to Ms A. Last month it emerged Ms A, an unidentified 51-year-old woman from Tipperary, was wrongly given the all-clear on two occasions.

This has led to the suspension of breast cancer checks from Barringtons private hospital in Limerick and the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise.

Results from tests carried out at these hospitals were screened at Galway.

The team will probe all relevant tests carried out at Galway between January 31, 2005, and May 31, 2007.

“The team will investigate the safety, quality and standards (including but limited to governance arrangements) of pathology services provided by the Health Service Executive at the hospital with a view to identifying any circumstances which may give rise to a serious risk to the health or welfare of any person”, according to the terms of reference.

If concerns are raised in other areas of care the team has been given licence to broaden its terms of reference with the approval of the authority.