Dáil debates

Tuesday, 26 June 2012

 

Patient Redress Scheme

6:00 pm

Photo of Gerald NashGerald Nash (Louth, Labour)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to raise the issue of compensation for women excluded from the redress scheme of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. All Members, including the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, have acknowledged the appalling wrongs done to the women who suffered altogether unnecessary hysterectomies at the hands of Michael Neary. The redress scheme of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital was rolled out in 2007. It covered most of the victims but, unfortunately, it left 35 women in the cold. These women did not fit into the bureaucratic grid designed for the scheme. The intransigence of former Minister, Mary Harney, meant that calls for the inclusion of these women were met with cold indifference for years, which compounded the injustice they had already suffered. I understand that 29 of these women were excluded on the grounds of age. Women under 40 who had unnecessary bilateral oophorectomies were barred from even applying to the scheme. In one exceptionally harsh case a woman was excluded because the procedure was delayed by one week and, as a result, took place just three days after her 40th birthday.

The voices of these women went unheard for four years until this Government committed to finding a mechanism to compensate those who were excluded from the redress scheme on age grounds alone. Other women have been excluded for reasons other than age, including some who lost children and others who suffered unnecessary gynaecological hysterectomies. These cases have already been raised by the Patient Focus organisation. Last February I was heartened by the Minister for Health when he stated to the House that he was aware of these cases and had given an undertaking to Patient Focus that he would review them. He went on to indicate that the review was already under way. However, I am concerned that five months later there is still no sign of a mechanism to acknowledge the grievous wrongs done to these women, who have already been waiting five years. What was done to these women was shameful. We must not add insult to injury by forcing them to wait any longer for the justice they deserve.

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