Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)

I congratulate Judge Maureen Harding Clark on her very clear and comprehensive report, which outlined shocking and disgraceful practices. It is unacceptable that such practices were allowed to continue. The report screams for justice for these women. I agree with the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children's assertion that safety in hospitals should be as rigorous as passenger safety in airlines. This is the least people can expect from a hospital. They should not expect to emerge from hospital in such terrible condition. Even today, people can go into hospital and become infected with MRSA.

I wonder whether it would be foolish to think that examples of bad and dangerous practice would not be found in other hospitals if they were put under the same spotlight. I understand the report says as much. The team behind the report found it extraordinary how many of the cases, when taken on their own, appeared to be acceptable medical practice and had to remind themselves that the number of such procedures was extraordinary. If it was difficult for Judge Harding Clark's team to comprehend that this behaviour was immediately abnormal, it is understandable how it continued undetected for so long. Where better to hide a tree than a forest? While what happened was completely unacceptable, the lack of a system of peer review meant that it was impossible to detect it. I congratulate Judge Harding Clark and the whistleblowers who were brave enough to bring this issue to the fore.

It is not for me to judge Mr. Neary but I blame the system which allowed him to practise unsupervised even though he was bucking national trends. The line that good hardworking people can unwittingly allow bad practice to occur is both powerful and true. However, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital still does not possess a computerised data collection system, which is disgraceful. According to the report, the hospital was very busy, with perpetual funding and staffing problems. However, the situation that pertained when Mr. Neary worked at the hospital persists. The report concludes that the hospital is still understaffed, with two consultants absent over extended periods and no sign of replacements for them.

How much of this is due to an ostrich-like attitude in respect of the health service? A considerable number of reports on the health service, including the health strategy and the primary care report, have been produced but not enforced and are gathering dust. I hope this report will not meet a similar fate.

I agree that patient safety in hospitals should be as rigorous as passenger safety in airlines. However, on International Women's Day, I calculate that 260 women will die in the south and west of the country because they will only be scheduled to be screened under the BreastCheck programme in 2009. These women will have died by then. The Government could use the services of the Galway Clinic to screen these women with the help of the National Treatment Purchase Fund. On 22 February 2003, the clinic told the Tánaiste that it was prepared to offer such a service. If she had accepted its offer, hundreds of women would not have died. Money could be made available to allow the clinic to provide the service. The excuse given for declining the clinic's offer in 2003 was that it used a digital service while BreastCheck was an analogue service. However, BreastCheck has now switched over to a digital service so there is no excuse for not using the service that could be provided by the clinic.

A total of 100 women with hepatitis C were infected by Anti-D product but have not tested positive for the disease despite the fact that every other hepatologist or consultant hepatologist claims he or she can prove they have hepatitis C. These women cannot avail of free medical care.

What took place in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital was shocking and I feel for every woman affected by it. I am glad they will receive compensation but it can never make up for what they have endured. The prospect of it happening again is unacceptable. There appears to be a major problem with computers in the health system and it is time proper systems were put in place. I welcome the move towards comprehensive insurance. It is easy to blame the doctors but these practices obviously took place in the unit itself. The situation is not straightforward. In the absence of proper systems, these practices will recur, which is unacceptable.

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