Families warn Harney ahead of misdiagnoses report

THE families of two women, who died after they were incorrectly given breast cancer all-clears, said they will hold Health Minister Mary Harney personally responsible if an investigation into the scandal fails to explain how the tragedies occurred.

Speaking before today’s publication of an independent report into services at Ennis General Hospital, the family of Ann Moriarty urged Ms Harney to keep her promise that the exact reasons for the needless deaths will be exposed.

Last September, the Government was thrown into another health service scandal after it emerged mother-of-one Ann Moriarty died of metastatic cancer in April 2008 — eight months after hospital X-rays insisted she was healthy. The tragic death of the 53-year-old, who had been in remission from breast cancer since a mastectomy in 2005, was initially believed to be an isolated incident.

However, after Ms Moriarty’s husband Karl Henry broke his silence to reveal the scandal it emerged that another woman, 26-year-old mother-of-two Edel Kelly, had also needlessly lost her life due to delays in diagnosing her condition. Ms Kelly’s family have also indicated they would hold Ms Harney responsible.

Despite being directly affected by the tragic mistakes at Ennis General neither family will receive any details of the finalised report until 11am this morning, just two hours before the document is formally published.

Urging the minister to ensure all the findings are released in full and clearly show who was responsible for the failings in the system, widower Karl Henry said if excuses instead of explanations are put forward Ms Harney will effectively be holding herself responsible for the tragic deaths.

“The minister is on record on Clare FM last autumn saying she will make personally sure we get the answers required. We hope and expect our questions will be answered, but if they aren’t then we will find the answers from her,” explained Mr Henry.

“Each and every one of us are users of the system, and such an appalling situation as this should be open to full transparency.

“We want answers. I don’t know what’s in the report, I haven’t seen it yet and I’ve been told very strictly... there would be consequences if we were given something and then gave it out early, but I’ve already made it clear what I feel about how it is being published,” he added.

The Health Information and Quality Authority probe was launched in late September and initially given a three-month timeline to report back. It will be released today, two days after the worst budget in decades and the day before the Easter weekend. “I question the timing and I make no apologies for that. If I sound quite cynical, I have every reason to be,” said Mr Henry.