Simon Harris to discuss concerns with delayed gynaecological services in Cork

Health Minister Simon Harris is to meet with consultants at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) in the new year amid fears that women face delayed cancer diagnoses on foot of difficulties accessing timely gynaecological services.

Mr Harris gave a commitment at the start of December to undertake a site visit once he had received a report from the HSE on the state of the hospital’s gynaecological services, where almost 4,200 women are awaiting outpatient appointments; approximately 800 have waited more than 18 months.

A spokesperson for Cork University Hospital, under whose governance CUMH falls, said its report was submitted to the Department of Health on December 8.