People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith has formally complained to the Dáil’s Ceann Comhairle over the repeated refusal of the HSE and the Health Minister to answer a question on the cervical check scandal.
The TD has claimed that since May she has repeatedly asked the HSE to list the laboratories from which the 221 negligently misread slides came from. The question has never been answered despite assurances from ex HSE boss Tony O’Brien that it would be.
Bríd Smith said:
“It is utterly frustrating that each answer I have received has been full of obfuscation and waffle, but the simple answer required; the numbers of these negligently misread slides per laboratory has not been revealed.”
The TD said she was moved to formally complain after a PAC committee heard from HSE officials that since the Scally report they have reviewed the 221 cases.
“It is clear that they know exactly which labs these 221 negligently misread slides came from, yet they have continually refused to give the Dáil that information.”
The TD has said she believes that outsourcing of the screening process and the use of US labs with different standards compared to the one Irish public lab has played a large role in the tragedy that has affected so many women.
“I am asking again that the Ceann and the Minister get the HSE to release this information, it is clearly in the public interest. Women and their families are entitled to know which labs the negligently misread slides came from.”
