‘Scandalous’ attempts to inform women they may have cancer

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) has been lambasted for its “scandalous attempts” to inform women in the midlands whether they needed surgical follow-ups after uncertainty arose about the validity of their ultrasound investigations.

Patient Focus and the Labour Party criticised the HSE for not providing counselling for the 97 women.

There was also widespread condemnation of the HSE helpline, with former patients at Portlaoise saying they telephoned repeatedly seeking information on Thursday evening and again yesterday — only to get an answering machine.