O’Malley case echoes HSE’s chronic failings

IT IS almost a year since Tipperary, mother-of-three, Rebecca O’Malley, first spoke publicly of her breast cancer misdiagnosis.

For months she had sought answers from the institutions responsible for her care. She wanted to know why her cancer had been missed, forcing her to have a mastectomy, and if other patients had suffered in the same way.

She wanted to know what steps these hospitals were taking to ensure no other women endured the trauma she had been subject to. Given her level of injury, answers to her questions were the least she deserved. Yet, none were forthcoming until she revealed her tragedy to the public.