Mr. Stephen Teap:

The biggest issue I have is the longevity of the oversight of the plan and that it remains in place. We have seen earlier this year, around February, an attempt to wind down the CervicalCheck steering committee. Right now, I am not confident that it will stay running for the next couple of months either. For me, the biggest reason it has been so successful in its implementation to date, with over 80% of the recommendations implemented, is the fact that there has been so much oversight of it. The unfortunate thing about this is it is because of the media spotlight also. That aids its progression as well, in that people are interested in seeing this report fulfilled but we should not need the media interest to move this along. It needs commitment from the Department of Health to ensure that it continues. This oversight makes the job easier for the people mainly involved with this within the HSE to continue with this process.

Another issue I have is that it is one thing to tick a box and fulfil an action but it is also necessary to follow up on that action to ensure that in years to come, it is still continuing and that some sort of review process is in place for it, which currently does not exist. Right now, with 116 actions, it is a tick-box to ensure that it is done but there is nothing to follow that up in a few years' time to see that it is still running or working. We need to ensure the continuity of this aspect of it because many of these recommendations are in respect of governance, employment, staff quality assurance, as well as auditing and tendering. There are many important elements that impact not just CervicalCheck but the healthcare system as a whole. Open disclosure and many other important items should not just be isolated to CervicalCheck but are matters that will impact the whole healthcare system. It is important that proper oversight of this remains in place.