Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I hope that we will be able to get some answers in the debate about the uncertainty surrounding media reports of a review of a pathologist's work at Cork University Hospital. Media reports refer to a locum pathologist who was in place in the Cork University Hospital from July to August of this year, a term of approximately six weeks. Since then a number of cases have been sent to a laboratory in London for review. We are not sure how many cases are involved. There was mention in a newspaper yesterday of 1,000 cases. There are also reports that 15 patients out of 166 have been recalled and sent for further examination.

Yesterday, Deputy Kenny raised this matter with the Taoiseach on Leaders' Questions and the Taoiseach confirmed that there was a review going on in Cork University Hospital related to a pathologist. He did not give details of exactly how many cases were involved. When asked when the Minister was made aware of it, the Taoiseach stated she was informed on 23 November, despite the fact that the review is ongoing since September. That was five days ago, the day after the information came out in the Joint Committee on Health and Children. Was it a case of this having to come out too and of informing the Minister now, or would she have been informed at all were it not for the publicity last Thursday?

There are serious questions and much information which is not coming out and which people have not got. That is leading to much concern about the pathology services in Cork University Hospital. I have read reports that this pathologist was previously employed in Galway and left there due to uncertainty and difficulty surrounding the work that was being carried out in the pathology department. Did this person come directly from Galway to Cork or was there a gap in between? If there were concerns about the work that was being carried on, how come they were not relayed to Cork University Hospital? If this person was working in Galway, are there concerns about the work that was being done there by this pathologist?

There are many questions that I want answered. I do not have the information to make a five-minute speech, but I am glad that the Minister of State is here and I hope we will get some resolution to the uncertainty surrounding this situation.

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