Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 23 May 2018

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

Cancer Screening Programmes: Discussion

9:00 am

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

To be crystal clear, we are having this hearing on screening programmes because of a scandalous withholding of information from women, albeit by another programme. What the Dáil and this and other committees have discussed is the apparent paternalistic attitude of people within the health service towards the women who are users of that service. With respect, that is why Professor Hill is here today. It is not because of any failing on behalf of this particular screening programme. However, if there is a lack of confidence in the screening programmes overseen by the HSE, the blame for that does not lie at the door of the politicians or the women themselves. The blame lies at the door of the HSE. We are discussing it because we, as elected representatives, have received calls from constituents who are panicking.

I am a major supporter of Professor Hill's service. I can count at least two women in my life who I am reasonably confident owe their lives, and certainly their health, to that service. I encourage all women to use it. I would love to see the rate climb far above 70%.

We are all busy but women need to believe that when they present themselves, they will get the best quality service. Where there is a misdiagnosis, whether or not a woman wants to go back on that road, there should be some learning by the organisation. We fully appreciate that human beings make mistakes but if there is a perception of people trying to cover up those mistakes or withholding information, issues would arise. I am very happy to join all the witnesses in encouraging all eligible women to respond to that letter and keep their contact information up to date to ensure they get themselves tested. The responsibility of the witnesses is to ensure that when women present themselves, they can have confidence in the process.

When we ask a question about the look-back and whether it is automatic, it is partly for the woman sitting in front of the doctors who may not want to go back. Surely learning can only happen if we go back and where there is a misdiagnosis it is examined for what was missed, how it was missed and how we can improve things and ensure it does not happen again. We need to get a sense that it is happening.

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