HSE: We’re sorry for missing cancer

The HSE has apologised to a 57-year-old woman whose breast cancer was misdiagnosed three times and who later had to undergo a mastectomy after an invasive cancer was finally discovered.

The apology was read out in the High Court as part of Olive Fahey’s settlement of her aggravated damages action as a result of the misdiagnosis after she was referred to Barrington’s Hospital, Limerick.

On three occasions between Sept 2005 and Mar 2007 she was told she did not have breast cancer.