Extended Hours Over Cancer Test Checks

Such is the expected volume of patients seeking reassurance over the veracity of recent breast cancer tests that consultants are to be requested to work extended hours.

The eight designated cancer centres across the State are being inundated with patients seeking to have their cancer test results rechecked.

The move comes in the wake of significant public concern about the reliability of cancer test results since it emerged two women who have since died - Ann Moriarty and Edel Kelly - were misdiagnosed at Ennis General Hospital.

The rechecks are being offered to women who presented with breast cancer symptoms in the past two years and who were given the all clear, but who now want reassurance that their original diagnosis was correct.

Women who have concerns about their original diagnosis and want reassurance are advised to attend their GP, who will have the option to refer them for reassessment to one of the eight designated cancer centres.

Minister for Health Mary Harney said yesterday that any woman referred to a designated centre for reassessment will not have to pay for the tests, but if the woman does not have a medical card she will continue to have to pay for attending her GP in the first instance.

"I am very conscious that many women who have been told they do not have a diagnosis of breast cancer in the last two years may want assurances that they can have confidence in their assessment.

"I would advise any woman who has concerns to contact their GP, who will refer them to a designated cancer centre for further assessment if necessary," she said.

"Following the initial visit to the GP, any follow-up assessment and/or treatment will be paid for by the public health system," she added.

Lillian McGovern, Chief Executive of the Marie Keating Foundation, said she hoped GPs would approach each case, with regard to GP fees, on a patient-by-patient basis and be sympathetic and sensitive to the financial situations of these patients where necessary.

It was announced on Wednesday that an independent investigation into services at Ennis hospital is to take place, in particular its A&E unit and the way it handles test results, after it filed away test results without acting on them in the cases of Ms Moriarty and Ms Kelly.

See: Cancer Misdiagnosis Probe Ordered

(BMcC)