James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

In the past four months, details have been leaked about the concerns over the reading of pathology slides in Cork University Hospital, which reportedly resulted in at least 15 cases of misdiagnosis. Some 15 patients were probably walking around with cancer as the relevant memo states there were signs of malignancy and signs suggestive of malignancy.

This went on for four months while the HSE dithered and went into denial as it tried to figure out how best to limit damage to the HSE instead of focusing on the patients and their immediate need for treatment. The Minister must have read reports in the Daily Mail for the past month and her press officer surely brought the matter to her attention in the daily briefings she receives. To say she could be unaware of the issue beggars belief.

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