Briefing note to Health Minister: Vicky Phelan’s case ‘not a patient safety issue’

The head of the national cancer control programme played down concerns about cancer patient Vicky Phelan’s case, advising it was not a “patient safety” matter.

The advice was given to Health Minister Simon Harris just days before the dying mother went to the courts to seek redress over an inaccurate cervical cancer test.

The briefing note also seems to suggest that women were not automatically being told of smear test result changes.