Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

As I understand it, a cardiologist noticed when he looked back at the diagnosis of one patient that the lung cancer diagnosis had not been made and he got in touch with HIQA about these issues. The HSE was informed in late 2007 and I became aware of this in March when I received a telephone call while I was overseas for St. Patrick's Day. The discussions between key medical experts centred on whether there should be a review, the extent of the review, its methodology and recruiting people to conduct the review. It has not been easy to get people to conduct the review and we have had to rely on radiologists from Northern Ireland to assist in it because we want it completed in a timely fashion.

With regard to the initial four cases, I do not know how long it will take Professor Fitzgerald to conclude his review but the families of the patients have been spoken to on a number of occasions and they have been met by the HSE. They are being kept in the picture where the review is concerned and, as soon as it is completed, they will be first to have a copy of it before it is even forwarded to myself or the HSE.

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