Cancer Misdiagnosis Probe Ordered

The spectre of cancer misdiagnosis in women has again come back to haunt the Irish government.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has today been meeting cancer support groups to brief them about a new initiative for women concerned about cancer following fresh revelations over a third suspected misdiagnosis at Ennis General Hospital.

The head of the HSE, Professor Brendan Drumm, said earlier this week there may be a third case of cancer misdiagnosis at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Ennis.

The HSE is therefore to put in place a new referral process aimed at reassuring women who were diagnosed as not having breast cancer at hospital symptomatic breast clinics in the past two years but who may have concerns.

At the same time Health Minister Mary Harney has said she had asked the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to examine the operation of services at Ennis General Hospital, including issues relating to the diagnosis, follow-up and treatment of patients, as well as communications within the hospital.

While the exact terms of reference for the new HIQA review have not yet been finalised, it appeared today that it represent the first ever review of the entire services provided in a hospital.

However, it is also unclear at present how the review will fit with a separate examination of hospital services in the midwest region overall, which has been under way in the HSE for some time.

Meanwhile, women who have been cleared of breast cancer in the last two years, but are concerned about their test results, will be entitled to re-checks if their GP deems it necessary.

The cost for women attending a GP or hospital for the rapid cancer re-checks will be free, but there is a caveat.

A spokesman for Ms Harney said that while the hospital checks will be free, women who do not have a medical card and attend their GP as a private patient will have to pay for the consultation.

However, some campaigners and Opposition politicians have expressed concern that the review could be used as a means of downgrading Ennis and other smaller hospitals in the midwest region.

"I am confident that HIQA's report will help us ensure that our services meet the standards which all our patients are entitled to expect," Ms Harney said.

"However, I feel it is important to have a wider examination of the operation of Ennis General Hospital. I believe that there may be lessons to be learned both for Ennis General Hospital itself and for the wider acute hospital system," she said.

The HSE said it recognised that many women who have attended hospital symptomatic breast clinics in the past two years and who were diagnosed as not having breast cancer were now seeking reassurance.

It said it had every reason to believe that the vast majority of women who were assessed in a hospital breast clinic received the correct and appropriate assessment. However, it urged women with concerns to contact their GP.

See: Harney And Drumm Face Questioning Over Cancer Reports

(BMcC)