Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the huge anxiety and distress for the patients concerned. Like the Deputy, I extend my sympathy to the family of the patient who died before the HSE review commenced. The report outlined the look back process and the actions taken by the HSE following identification of the probable missed cancers. The Deputy talks about this being systemic. It is important to note that the HSE related these events to the practice of a single clinician. The full report has been made available on the HSE website. Following the HSE audit, 615 patients were recalled for either a repeat colonoscopy or an outpatient appointment. I am informed that all patients involved have been contacted.

It is important to note that all had open disclosure and have since been provided with support and treatment. Since the Wexford General Hospital incident, BowelScreen has reviewed its quality assurance procedures to ensure all units and individuals delivering colonoscopy services on behalf of BowelScreen are doing so to the highest possible standard.

In line with good practice as well as the open disclosure, an external review is commencing to see what further lessons can be learnt. It will look at how the incident was identified and managed, and will include recommendations on the point the Deputy has made about governance, accountability and authority at each level involved. It is expected that review will take six months to complete. The Minister of Health has been made aware of the incident and has received regular updates on the progress of the review.

I wish to make the general point that bowel cancer is the second-most common newly diagnosed cancer in Ireland. It is also the second-most common cause of cancer death in Ireland. The BowelScreen programme provides a valuable service and screening is the most effective approach. The uptake of the bowel-screening programme offered to individuals is not what it should be. This is an opportunity to encourage people to respond when they receive the letter on screening in the post.

See this speech in context