Patients delayed seeking files on faulty hips

People damaged by the DePuy faulty hip replacements scandal are struggling to access their medical files — and may be unable to sue unless they receive the documents by the middle of next month.

Patient representatives told the Oireachtas Health Committee of the problems, which are in addition to a lack of any compensation offer to date, during a lengthy meeting yesterday.

Patient Focus officials said international medical devices firm DePuy has agreed to cover the out-of-pocket expenses and the cost of rehabilitative surgery of those affected. However, they stressed that to date no compensation over the damage the faults have caused has been provided.