Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

——and gives a very bad signal to the people of the north east, on whom she has already turned her back repeatedly in respect of the health issues of concern to them. I have to hand one of the letters sent out by the Health Service Executive to thousands of people in counties Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Meath. It was received by one of my constituents in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan. The woman in question is willing to share the information that at the best of times she is prone to anxiety and stress. One can only imagine her distress when she read this letter. She now faces two months living in fear and trepidation as she awaits the outcome of the review of her case.

One of the first things that must be done by the Minister for Health and Children is to provide the resources to expedite the reviews and to shorten the agonising waiting time for patients. Some letters from the HSE have arrived months after the person in question has died as a result of cancer, greatly adding to the grief of their loved ones. While the HSE originally stated that four people who were misdiagnosed had died, I understand this figure could prove to be as high as ten.

This issue first came to public notice with a report in The Sunday Tribune on 30 March that the HSE in the north east was considering a review of radiology services, possibly involving the rechecking of thousands of scans for cancer. Given the experience of women in the midlands, this was of major concern to those in the north east who had undergone such scans. Concerns were expressed directly to me at that time. On 31 March, the HSE issued a statement indicating that a limited review was under way. The HSE did not state the exact nature of the tests involved and it was unclear whether the HSE had contacted patients who might have been affected. There was no clarity for patients, even though the HSE stated that the requirement to inform patients and their families must take precedence over all other considerations. I stated at the time that there should be no repeat of the mismanagement and lack of information that surrounded the midlands cancer screening scandal. I also stated that inadequate resources and facilities for oncology in the north east had been highlighted repeatedly by frontline staff and that cancer services in this region required significant enhancement. I regret that from what has been learned subsequently, this appears to be a repeat of the midlands scandal.

A locum radiologist was employed by the HSE from August 2006 to August 2007. My Sinn Féin colleague on Louth County Council, Councillor Tomás Sharkey, has highlighted how a man in his constituency was X-rayed in May 2007 and was sent home after being given the all-clear. On 14 November 2007, however, he was re-admitted to hospital and X-rayed. On this occasion, the radiologist on duty immediately recognised cancer on the X-ray. The second radiologist checked the May 2007 X-ray result and realised it was clearly shown on that one too. The patient in question was told he had cancer only when he went to another hospital for further treatment. X-rays of this man were taken hours before his death and the family have never been given a proper explanation as to how this tragic case was handled.

The locum radiologist who worked from August 2006 to August 2007 lives in Scotland. In the Irish edition of the Mail on Sunday of 18 May, he alleged he was being scapegoated. He stated he knew nothing about X-rays being recalled, as no one had informed him of the review. He also stated, "Why I am being singled out for all of these supposed mistakes when there were others in those hospitals who also saw the X-rays bewilders me."

What was most significant in this report was the alleged comment from a person described as a senior source close to the review who said other members of staff had also viewed the X-rays of some of the patients who later died and had also missed the cancer lesions. The source is quoted as saying there were other weak links in the chain. Another source who attended the meeting held after the diagnosis of one patient said the oncologist's age was a major factor in his being singled out by the review team. This raises very serious questions.

We hear a lot about clinical governance and the better management of our health services. Are we looking at a cover-up of the systems failure for which the current Minister and successive Ministers are ultimately responsible? The Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, must ensure complete and comprehensive information is provided, including by way of a public inquiry if necessary, on the systems failures that have led to the terrible situation facing thousands of people in counties Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Meath.

We need an explanation for the delay in acting on this matter after it first came to the notice of the HSE. Coming in the wake of previous cancer diagnosis reviews, all of this highlights the failure of successive Ministers, the Departments and the HSE to ensure the delivery of the best care for all patients at all locations where cancer services are provided.

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