Harris: CervicalCheck comments insensitive
FORMER health minister Simon Harris has described comments by the head of CervicalCheck claiming some women ‘know in their heart and soul that they haven’t been wronged’ as ‘inappropriate, unfortunate, insensitive’.
Dr Nóirín Russell is said to have made the remarks about women making claims against the service in a recorded conversation that took place two years ago.
She is also reported to have said that some women were using the process in the hope that ‘they might get some money’.
Dr Russell apologised for comments she made in a conversation with Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín, after a recording of the call was obtained by The Sunday Times.
A review into CervicalCheck identified at least 221 women diagnosed with cervical cancer who were not previously told about misreported smear tests, and could have been alerted to the early stages of cancer.
Mr Harris, who was health minister when the controversy came to light after Limerick mother Vicky Phelan brought a case before the courts, described Dr Russell as an ‘excellent clinician and an excellent advocate’ for women’s healthcare.
He said: ‘I also know the 221+ group very well and many of the women impacted by the CervicalCheck scandal very well. I would have met many of them on multiple occasions... and am friends with some of them.
‘I know exactly the horrifically difficult situations they went through and I think the comments did really hurt them. I think that’s important to acknowledge, I think that has been acknowledged, and I... welcome the apology.’
Outgoing HSE chief, Paul Reid, said that he accepts the comments were ‘careless and hurtful to women’.