Cancer motion lacks criticism

THE Government has filed a Dáil motion on last week’s cancer reports that does not contain one single word of criticism of the Health Service Executive — despite the fact the reports were damning of the organisation.

The reports found that serious medical and managerial problems contributed to the crisis over the misdiagnosis of women with breast cancer.

Despite this, neither the Department of Health nor the HSE is holding anyone to account for the failures that occurred. And, when the Dáil debates the controversy today, the Government motion on the issue will contain no criticism of the HSE.

The motion, tabled by Health Minister Mary Harney, calls on the Dáil to “welcome the publication” of the reports and “reiterate its support” for the National Cancer Programme.

The only mention of the HSE is in the second paragraph of the motion, which reads: “[The Dail] supports the actions being taken by the Minister for Health and Children, and the board and management of the HSE, to ensure that patients’ interests come first in the future management of all such reviews and serious adverse incidents.”

Opposition parties are expected to be scathing of the motion and the performances of both Ms Harney and HSE management.