Results 2,601-2,620 of 3,336 for speaker:Kate O'Connell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Kate O'Connell: It did not come up and did not feature in the assessment. This once-off incident of INAB applying accreditation retrospectively did not come up in the assessment by the European boss. We did not know at that stage. Has INAB reported this to the European body in light of this? Is that normal practice? From the opening statement, it seems this is a bit of a mess. Would INAB go to its...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Kate O'Connell: Has the HSE been in contact with the European bosses of INAB to indicate there may be an issue if accreditation is being given out and procedures may not necessarily be followed? Is that a concern? There is an expected standard with ISO accreditation and if that is being breached in any way, even with retrospective accreditation, is that an issue? Are there any concerns about INAB?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Kate O'Connell: Surely if the HSE is issuing contracts with a necessary standard and the independent organisation that is supposed to be giving the accreditation has done something that is not orthodox, would it not be a concern for all contracts and all the stuff done by INAB? INAB was auditing a company and did not notice the fellow in Salford, and it was prepared to make a one-time retrospective...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Kate O'Connell: I understand that. Is the HSE concerned about this issue with INAB? I am concerned that a laboratory has been operational for this length and its audits did not notice it. It was prepared to retrospectively accredit work based on paperwork. Is the HSE worried about standards?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Kate O'Connell: So the role is to write the cheque and not ask the questions while hoping for the best.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Kate O'Connell: I feel like writing to the European body and asking if it has looked on the lads in Ireland as something dodgy, or at least not 100% right, is going on if they can retrospectively accredit a company. If it happened every day, I could see that it is done that way but we are talking about one fellow in Salford. Why would the accreditation body act in this way? I have gone at this every way...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Kate O'Connell: I am wondering about prior to that. We knew there was a problem in April this year but what about before all this came out?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Kate O'Connell: Was there a procedure on Dr. Doherty's visit? How many were on the team if she was the lead? Was there an external histopathologist? Who was on the team that went over?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Kate O'Connell: What about those people? Do the employees of CervicalCheck who are quality assurance experts work in cervical screening all the time?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Kate O'Connell: Can Dr Doherty say for what organisation they work in their second role? Does somebody work for the State and a private company engaged in quality assurance at the same time?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Kate O'Connell: Was it a different person from the one who would not come and give evidence?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Kate O'Connell: My understanding is that before Dr. Doherty's time, there was an independent doctor, an assistant pathologist who did not deal with Dr. Scally at all and who has not formed any part of the report. It was a new independent doctor.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Kate O'Connell: I believe I am still behind Deputy Kelly's time. I would have to go on for half the day. Will the Chairman let me finish? I am nearly there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Kate O'Connell: Dr. Doherty travelled over with the independent consultant, the QA person, and who else? Dr. Doherty was leading the team.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Kate O'Connell: In respect of the paperwork, did the doctor go over with a file and tick boxes? Is there a formal process and does the doctor come back with a report?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Kate O'Connell: Was the process created by Dr. Doherty, or did she just pick up the empty file and travel over? Did she set up this new way of engaging in quality assurance?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Kate O'Connell: Did anybody here today make quality assurance visits before Dr. Doherty came on board?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Kate O'Connell: Can we have the list of the names of people who made quality assurance visits in the past 12 years and be told when they went, for how long the trip was and who paid for it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Kate O'Connell: That is fine. How many went because Dr. Doherty was able to manage with three or four people, but prior to that, there does not seem to have been any quality assurance expert. I do not think I am wrong in saying the assistant pathologist doctor who was externally employed has not engaged with the Scally inquiry. When will we receive that information? It must be very clear from the diaries.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Kate O'Connell: In response to my earlier questioning Ms Burke said that the ISO accreditation was to the organisation, but that is not true. It is to the test; is it not? I just had a look and it is specifically to a test. I was confused about it when she was giving me answers before the break. The INAB, does not give ISO accreditation to Durkan Limited; it is specifically for tests taken on.