‘Recommendations must be heard for lives to be saved’

I WOULD like to thank the Health Information & Quality Authority (HIQA) for their investigation of errors in my diagnosis of breast cancer between September 2005 and June 2007 while a patient at Barrington’s Hospital, Limerick.

Similarly I would like to thank Minister Mary Harney for her support. The minister met with me earlier this year and I was impressed by the sincerity of her commitment to ensure that what has happened to me will not happen to other women in the future through reform of cancer care services.

There are 12 very specific recommendations contained in this investigation report. If all these recommendations are promptly implemented, it seems clear that lives will be saved.