Management is at fault here — not the medical team

A woman affected by the breast cancer crisis shares her story and who she feels is to blame.

I AM writing to you following the articles published in the Irish Examiner.

With regard to your report on reviews currently taking place at Cork University Hospital (CUH) I would like to provide you with the following account of my experience in these matters.

Firstly, I would like to strongly outline my heartfelt regard and admiration for the medical team in the breast clinic at CUH, who throughout the course of these events have demonstrated absolute professionalism, care and compassion in my view.

It is my view that it is the medics and the practitioners on the ground who courageously continue to pick up the pieces in the aftermath of one managerial blunder after another.

Indeed my resistance to contact the press before now has been based on the level of care being provided to me by all attached to the breast clinic at CUH.

It is my outrage at the continued veil of silence and inadequate responses of those who claim to manage our health services that has provoked me into outlining my experiences in this regard.

In 2004, I presented at the South Infirmary Victoria Hospital in Cork with a lump in my right breast, which was diagnosed as a cyst and subsequently aspirated (drained).

The cyst refilled and was once again aspirated at this clinic where I subsequently developed MRSA.

In June 2007 the lump returned and my GP referred me to the breast clinic at CUH. On the August 10, 2007, the cyst on my breast was once again aspirated and a sample sent to cytology.

I returned to the clinic on the September 14. The cyst had filled again and once again was aspirated.

I was informed that the cytology report of the August 10 was clear and there was no need for further cytology. I was informed that an appointment would be arranged for both a scan and a mammogram, which I would be notified of in a couple of weeks.

Two weeks later, I received my appointment for a mammogram, scheduled for January 22, 2008.

Not happy to wait this long, I contacted the clinic to see if I could organise to have the mammogram done privately to speed up the process and reduce my anxiety.

While waiting for the new appointment, I was contacted by the breast clinic at CUH to inform me that following a discussion of my case, the mammogram was now scheduled for Friday, November 9.

The following morning at 8.15am I received a call from a doctor at the breast clinic informing me that there was a problem with my cytology report and could I come to the hospital that morning to discuss it.

Following a discussion of my case with the doctor and a consultant at the clinic, I learned that the clinic had been alerted to my case by their risk manager at CUH.

It was explained to me that concerns had arisen following the hospital being alerted by technicians regarding a locum pathologist. On foot of the hospital’s concerns, I was informed that a total of 1,000 pathology tests were sent to a lab in Britain for re-evaluation. I was further informed that I was one of a number of re-evaluations which returned from Britain needing further investigation.

Once again, in my opinion, based on the diligence and appropriate response of the breast care team, I was taken for a scan, a mammogram and a series of biopsies that same morning.

This was to ensure that I was not waiting any longer than necessary to receive the results. A pretty gruelling experience all in one go, however, this did not concern me as I was clinging to the hope and the trust which I had and still have in these doctors who were going to reassure me that everything was going to be OK.

I received the pathology results on November 9 which were clear of any cancer. Great news! Tears of joy and tremendous relief? You betcha — or maybe not.

On researching the similar Rebecca O’Malley case, I was horrified to discover the pathology report in her case was provided by CUH in 2005.

On exploring this issue with CUH, I discovered the pathologist in the O’Malley case was yet another locum engaged by the hospital in 2005.

Given these series of difficulties with pathology at CUH, I was concerned and began to have certain doubts with regard to the results I had received that Friday.

I contacted the doctor at the clinic who was very understanding when I outlined my concerns and my request for an external evaluation of my pathology, preferably by the same clinic in Britain that had discovered the initial concerns with my cytology. The doctor informed me that she would look into this for me and would get back to me later that day.

I contacted the risk manager at CUH who appeared to be unfamiliar with my case, in spite of the fact that she had alerted the consultant in the first instance. The risk manager informed me she had a number of pressing meetings which she needed to attend but she told me she would get back to me later that day.

Later that morning I received a return call from the doctor with whom I had spoken earlier to inform me that she had organised to have my pathology sent to Britain as I requested.

Some hours later the risk manager contacted me to discuss my case and my request for an external evaluation of my pathology, at which she expressed some surprise, given the fact that my case had been reviewed.

I assured the risk manager that the doctor in this case had already seen to my request, but that I was appalled that a medical team who were under increasing pressure had to deal with tasks that should in my view be resolved by management.