Harney studying breast cancer misdiagnosis report

A long-awaited report into the misdiagnosis of nine Midlands women for breast cancer will be published as soon as possible, the Tánaiste told the Dáil today.

The findings of the Health Service Executive inquiry into the scandal are already being studied by the Minister for Health Mary Harney, Brian Cowen said.

The Minister for Finance denied claims by Labour leader Eamon Gilmore that the Taoiseach’s performances at the Mahon tribunal had distracted it from important issues.

Mr Gilmore claimed the report had been promised by the end of November and again by the end of February.

Last autumn, nine women who attended the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise were falsely diagnosed with breast cancer after originally being given the all-clear.

Breast radiology services were immediately suspended at the hospital and a consultant radiologist was put on administrative leave.

Mr Cowen said National Hospitals Office executive Ann Doherty has completed a report into the scandal and had sent it to HSE bosses and to Ms Harney.

Two other reports into the scandal – relating to HSE management and to clinical practices – are also being compiled.

“The Minster for Health will publish those reports in due course, as soon as possible,” Mr Cowen said.

He added: “As a local TD, he said he knew some of the people involved.

“It is important that these reports be brought into the public domain as quickly as possible to find out what happened and to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

The Tánaiste said the nine women would receive priority clinical support to ensure that their treatment is successful.

Earlier, raising the issue during Leaders’ Questions, Mr Gilmore said: “It is perfectly clear that this whole issue with the tribunal and the Taoiseach is transfixing this Government and is taking its attention away from the issues that affect the people.

“Last Autumn, this country was scandalised by the problems those women had and the sad situation they were in, walking into a clinic on a Saturday morning to find out if they had cancer, and now that it has disappeared off the headlines, it is forgotten about.

“The report was promised for November, it was then promised for the end of February. It’s clear it’s not going to be promised now.

“Those women are entitled to a response and it is quite clear the Government isn’t giving it the priority it should get.”