Body blow to victims of scandal

■ Your report headlined ‘Government puts cap on expenses payouts to victims of cancer scandal’ (Irish Independent, July 11) is another body blow to these unfortunate CervicalCheck cancer patients. The Department of Health has imposed a cut-off date of May 11 last for the reimbursement of expenses covering outgoings related to developing cervical cancer after being given an incorrect smear result from CervicalCheck.

The Taoiseach and Health Minister made a decision to set up the expenses scheme to support women and bereaved families on May 11. On that basis, the HSE immediately put in place arrangements to implement the Government decision from that date a spokeswoman stated.

This imposed timeline has dismayed many of the victims of this scandal, after they have endured considerable financial pressure including, loss of earnings, medical bills, travel, parking fees, overnight expenses and childcare, etc, prior to the date this scheme was started.

A cancer diagnosis hits patients and their families in three different ways: physically, emotionally, and financially. The Government should rethink this one, and remove the cap on cancer-related expenses prior to May 11.

The last thing cancer patients and their families need is the worry, stress and anxiety that money issues and spiralling medical expenses can bring, at a most vulnerable time in their lives.

Tom Towey Cloonacool, Co Sligo