Cervical cancer legal claims up more than 73pc in three months

THE number of legal claims relating to the CervicalCheck screening service has jumped by more than 73pc in three months.

As the fallout from the cervical cancer scandal continues, the latest figures from the State Claims Agency (SCA) say that as of the end of October it has dealt with a total of 85 claims.

That’s up from 49 claims in

July.

The latest figures have been provided to the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) ahead of its meeting today.

Its members are set to quiz SCA director Ciarán Breen on the cervical cancer issue, medical negligence and open disclosure by health staff.

The latest figures provided to the PAC show there are 73 active claims. There are six potential claims and one that has been closed. A further five cases have either seen indemnities received or been settled.

Mr Breen will tell TDs that the SCA is “committed to the expeditious resolution of cervical cancer misdiagnosis cases in a sensitive manner”.