Another HSE scandal - Will this madness ever end?

Six years ago, the Health Service Executive cleared a backlog of cervical smear tests by using a company in Texas to assess almost 40,000 samples.

This was understandable in the pressing circumstances of the day but it pointed to an unfortunate inadequacy in our health system. Too many women and their families had been left waiting for far too long for animportant and urgent diagnosis.

The Texas arrangement highlighted the export of exchequer funds that would have sustained jobs in this country had the essential facilities been put in place and the management of our health service — or indeed a private operation — been alert to the opportunity.