Results 141-160 of 270 for cervical speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (9 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: On 12 September 2018, the Report of the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme, led by Dr Gabriel Scally, was published following a Government decision. Government has accepted all 50 recommendations set out in the Report. The Report is unequivocal in stating that the widespread non-disclosure of the results of historical screening audits was a substantial breach of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (9 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: ...results which could affect the screening outcome and treatment of a person who may or who may not have a disease. It would be expected that they would have occurred in all labs contracted by CervicalCheck since its inception. I again emphasise that false positives and false negatives are unavoidable and happen in every screening programme. The Deputy has asked about the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (2 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 and 357 together. I am informed by the State Claims Agency that, as with all claims, the Mediator is appointed by agreement between the parties in the Cervical Check claims. If the parties cannot agree a mediator, there are institutions which may make an appointment, including the Law Society of Ireland, the Mediators Institute of Ireland, the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (26 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: On 12 September, the Report of the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck programme, led by Dr Gabriel Scally, was published on the website of my Department following the Government meeting. Dr Scally has emphasised in his Report that the continuation of cervical screening in the coming months is of crucial importance. In that context, I very much welcome the fact that he...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (26 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: ...results which could affect the screening outcome and treatment of a person who may or who may not have a disease. It would be expected that they would have occurred in all labs contracted by CervicalCheck since its inception. The Deputy may wish to be aware that according to Dr Scally’s report, conducting an audit or review of interval cancers is a good thing to do for the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (26 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: On 12 September, the Report of the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck programme, led by Dr Gabriel Scally, was published on the website of my Department following the Government meeting. Dr Scally has emphasised in his Report that the continuation of cervical screening in the coming months is of crucial importance. In that context, I very much welcome the fact that he...

Seanad: Scoping Inquiry into CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Statements (25 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: I am very pleased to be back in Seanad Éireann. As Senators are aware, on 12 September I published the report on the scoping inquiry into the CervicalCheck screening programme. I welcome the opportunity to speak to the House about the report. I publicly acknowledge the extraordinary contributions of Vicky Phelan, Stephen Teap, Lorraine Walsh and many other women and their families who...

Scoping Inquiry into the Cervical Check Screening Programme: Statements (19 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: Last week, I published the report of the scoping inquiry into the CervicalCheck programme and today I welcome the opportunity to speak about the issues at its very core. I want to acknowledge again on the record of this House the extraordinary contribution of Vicky Phelan as well as Stephen Teap and Lorraine Walsh and the other women and families impacted by the CervicalCheck audit. Dr....

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Cervical Screening Programme Administration (12 Jul 2018)

Simon Harris: The HSE has advised that between 2008 and early 2018, 1,482 cervical cancer cases were notified to CervicalCheck and, as the Deputy will now be aware, it initiated a process of clinical audit in relation to these. The Serious Incident Management Team established by the HSE identified in early May that there were 209 women to whom results should have been disclosed. Clinical audit was...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Cervical Screening Programme Inquiry (12 Jul 2018)

Simon Harris: .... The International Clinical Expert Review Panel led by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) will review the results of screening tests of all women who have developed cervical cancer who participated in the screening programme since it was established. This comprises approximately 1,850 women from within the overall cohort of 1,482 women diagnosed since 2008...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Cervical Screening Programme (12 Jul 2018)

Simon Harris: The cervical screening programme has reduced the risk of women developing cervical cancer and there was a significant downward trend in in the incidence of invasive cervical cancer between 2010 and 2015. Also, cervical cancers are being diagnosed at an earlier stage and five-year survival rates have improved. The clinical advice from the HSE and the Department of Health is clear that there...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Cervical Screening Programme (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Harris: The clinical advice from the HSE and the Department of Health is clear that there is no evidence that the clinical and technical aspects of CervicalCheck have performed outside or below international standards or the quality guidelines set for the programme. All laboratories currently contracted by CervicalCheck meet the programme’s standards and have ISO accreditation, certified by...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (28 Jun 2018)

Simon Harris: Currently, the testing of cervical smear tests is carried out by the following three institutions: - Quest Diagnostics Inc, Teterboro, New Jersey USA; - MedLab Pathology Ltd, Dublin (US company); and - Coombe Women and Infant’s University Hospital, Dublin.  Approximately 50% of the testing is done in Ireland, with the remaining 50% being done outside Ireland. Currently,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (28 Jun 2018)

Simon Harris: The Scally Inquiry, which the Government established on 08 May 2018, is examining all aspects of CervicalCheck, and all relevant documents within the Department and the HSE. As part of the Terms of Reference of the Inquiry, Dr Scally will examine the tendering, contracting, operation, conflict of interest arrangements, performance information and performance management, accreditation and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Harris: The CervicalCheck clinical audit process included 1,482 cases of cervical cancer notified to CervicalCheck since 2008. In April, the Serious Incident Management Team identified that there were 209 women for whom clinical audit results should have been disclosed but that in the majority of cases, this had not happened. The initial focus was on ensuring these 209 women were...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (21 Jun 2018)

Simon Harris: On 11 May 2018, the Government agreed a comprehensive package of health and social care measures to support the 209 women who have been diagnosed with cervical cancer and whose audit result differed from their original smear test and for their families. A range of services is being made available to all women, tailored to their individual needs and circumstances. This includes medical...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (21 Jun 2018)

Simon Harris: Cervical screening tests women for changes in the cells of the cervix using a smear test. Changes are common and cervical screening by smear tests can pick up early cell changes so they can be monitored or treated. The earlier abnormal cell changes are found, the easier they are to treat. Early detection and treatment of changes in the cells of the cervix can prevent cervical cancer. All...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (19 Jun 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 344 together. There was an extensive debate on the safety of the HPV vaccine and its efficacy in preventing the development of cervical cancer in this House on 28 March last in which a motion was passed unanimously which recognised that the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine protects young girls from developing a cervical cancer when they grow up,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HIV-AIDS Programmes (13 Jun 2018)

Simon Harris: ...is regarded as one of the safest and most cost-effective of all health care interventions. It is also one of the most effective ways a parent can protect the health of their child. Worldwide cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women and HPV immunisation is an important part of our childhood immunisation programmes which protects women from developing cancer later in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (12 Jun 2018)

Simon Harris: I have asked the HSE to introduce HPV testing as the primary screening method for the prevention of cervical cancer as soon as possible. The HPV test is more accurate testing mechanism than liquid-based cytology, which is the current testing mechanism, and its use would result in fewer false negative results. Its introduction is in line with developments in cervical screening...