Extra cancer staff approved

THREE hospital consultant posts and eight support staff positions are to be created by the Health Service Executive to bolster breast cancer services in the mid-west.

Regional director of cancer services Professor Jajnish Gupta revealed the posts were sanctioned in the days surrounding the publication of the HIQA report into the Rebecca O’Malley breast cancer misdiagnosis case.

Ms O’Malley attended the Mid-Western Regional Hospital’s breast cancer unit. Her diagnosis was delayed for a year after the Cork University Hospital laboratory misread test results. Her needle biopsy tests were sent to Cork in March 2005.