CervicalCheck campaigner has not been paid

Fears workload will make her sick again

AFTER undergoing invasive surgery on Monday, CervicalCheck campaigner Lorraine Walsh said she is still awaiting payment for her work as a patient advocate, as promised by Health Minister Simon Harris in October.

Ms Walsh, a cervical cancer survivor and member of the 221+ support group, underwent surgery in the UK for lymphoedema in her leg and is now on two weeks’ bed rest. The condition – a side effect of her cancer treatment – causes swelling from blockages in the lymphatic system.

In a letter to Mr Harris on December 4, Ms Walsh said she was likely to get ‘sick again’ if she continued in her advocacy role without financial support.

The letter reads: ‘I am selfemployed and I cannot continue to give the time and commitment to this very important work without backfilling my position on a part-time basis. I will either make myself sick again or my business will continue to suffer.

‘I would appreciate if you would like me to continue, to make the appropriate measures happen by the end of December.’ Ms Walsh has hired an additional staff member to ‘ease the pressure’.

It is understood the minister had previously proposed that reimbursement to her and fellow advocate Stephen Teap – a father of two who lost his wife Irene to cervical cancer – be made through the 221+ group or the Irish Cancer Society.

Ms Walsh told the Irish Mail on Sunday that this is inappropriate as she and Mr Teap were appointed by the health minister under recommendations in the

Scally scoping inquiry and, therefore, payment should come from his department. Ms Walsh added: ‘I would rather accept no payment at all than take it through the support group. It would go against my moral standing.’ In his review into the department’s Implementation Plan based on recommendations from his scoping inquiry, Dr Gabriel Scally criticised the ‘inequity’ of patient advocates working on ‘a voluntary, unpaid basis’. In his most recent letter to Ms letter: Advocate Lorraine Walsh Walsh, Mr Harris stated: ‘My department has advised me the 221+ group offers the most efficient solution [for payment].’ Despite her frustration, Ms Walsh is reluctant to give up her advocate role, fearing certain issues would fall by the wayside if she or Mr Teap were to quit and she would feel ‘guilty’. A department spokeswoman said: ‘The department is engaging with the individuals concerned regarding the manner in which payments will be made, with a view to finalising these payment arrangements in the near future.’ claire.scott@mailonsunday.ie