Results 2,681-2,700 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Colm Burke: That is the audit that was carried out. My understanding is that 275,000 smears are taken per annum. With regard to people who have not been identified with cancer, is there any view now that a sample audit should be done of people who have been advised they are all clear, just because of what has occurred? Does Dr. McKenna believe an audit should be done in respect of this at present? Is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Colm Burke: When that is finished, does Dr Holohan believe there may be an issue whereby we may have to do an audit of people who have not been identified with cancer, to see whether the results over the past two years are safe?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Colm Burke: I want to go back to the memos of February 2016, and this question is for Dr. O'Keeffe. The February 2016 briefing note stated the legal team was reviewing the content of case reports to be communicated and would advise. The note continued, "Await advice of solicitors." Is the advice of solicitors on how the information should be communicated in writing and is it available?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Colm Burke: When was that legal advice furnished?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Colm Burke: That is April 2016.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Colm Burke: There was still a problem by September 2017, at which time the information had not gone out to patients. Surely, having already received that legal advice in April 2016, more than 14 months later someone in CervicalCheck, the Department or anyone else who was aware that the information was not being given out must have been aware of the seriousness of that legal advice not being followed through.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Colm Burke: My understanding is that consultants other than Dr. Kevin Hickey in Limerick had raised issues about getting the information out there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Colm Burke: Has the HSE looked for that information from CervicalCheck?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Colm Burke: However, by June 2016, more than 200 letters went out to 29 clinicians, as I understand it. I find it strange that we now have only a written record of one medical clinician being concerned about getting the information out there. Is Dr. O'Keeffe saying the other 28 did not communicate at all and, at the same time, the information did not get out to the 200 patients?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Colm Burke: But-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Colm Burke: I will ask one last question. Was CervicalCheck aware that Dr. Hickey may have been conveying the concerns of other clinicians?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Colm Burke: However, Dr. Colm Henry would have been aware of the legal advice going back to April 2016.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Colm Burke: Briefly, I thank everyone for their contribution here this morning. It is very much appreciated. I note that there is a lot of misinformation out there. For instance, on Sunday evening I had a discussion with nurses who believed that the audit was carried out in respect of people who had not been diagnosed with cancer, and that information was kept from them. Given this type of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (17 May 2018)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State and welcome her to the House. I am raising the issue of the refurbishment of community hospitals in the Cork area, particularly Millstreet Community Hospital and Kanturk Community Hospital. They provide an essential service in the communities of Kanturk and Millstreet but there are also other community hospitals around the county. People are concerned about...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (17 May 2018)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive reply. We will have major challenges in the whole area of healthcare because of changing demographics. As the Minister of State is aware, the number of people over 65 is currently 637,000 and within ten years will be 1 million. Therefore, we will have huge demand and will need to dramatically increase the amount of care being provided in...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 May 2018)

Colm Burke: I join my colleagues in conveying my sympathies to the families who have suffered a loss over the past week. It is a difficult time for them and for all of the people directly or indirectly involved in the events of the past seven days. It is important that we pay tribute to everyone involved in helping, including the Garda, those who volunteered to assist the Garda, and those who gave...

Seanad: Bed Capacity at National Rehabilitation Hospital: Statements (23 May 2018)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State. I fully accept that this is always a major challenge. My colleague is right about the need for long-term planning. The standard is 60 beds per 1 million population. Therefore, in real terms, we do not have a sufficient number of beds. About 20 years ago there was a proposal to develop a unit in Cork. We need to consider the long-term. I agree with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening Programmes: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. The witnesses referred to 15 laboratories in the mid-1980s. My understanding is that there are now two laboratories in Ireland that do this work. Are there other laboratories doing other medical analysis that could take on some of this work if they got the staff? What is the position relating to laboratories overall in the country if we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening Programmes: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Colm Burke: Yes, but 95% of that area that is being looked at. I am open to correction on this, but the tests would not pick up womb cancer for example. This information needs to be classified.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening Programmes: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Colm Burke: That analysis relates to the screening programme being done. It does not deal with other issues around other cancers. The misinformation out there is very much that once a person gets a clear smear and a clear result she is totally clear and does not have to worry about it for three years, whereas there are other cancers that the tests may not identify. Would the witness agree with this?