Now 1,500 women at risk from test errors

Checks never carried out on cancer sufferers

AS MANY as 1,500 more women are at risk of being dragged into the continually escalating cervical cancer scandal.

The HSE confirmed that there were 3,000 cases of cervical cancer notified in the past 10 years to the National Cancer Registry – but just 1,482 of these cases had been reviewed. The other 1,500 will now have to be studied.

In a revelation described as a “bombshell”, Health Minister Simon Harris said a “potentially considerable number of cases” where women developed cancer were not subjected to an audit.

The audit would establish whether they were the victims of a delayed diagnosis and whether the disease should have been detected earlier.

Previously, it was believed all existing smear tests were reexamined as a matter of practice if a woman was later diagnosed with cervical cancer.

However, the team sent into the Cervical-Check screening unit, since Vicky Phelan settled her case, discovered not all cases were examined.

Mr Harris said he did not have “specific figures” but agreed with Fianna Fáil health spokesman Stephen Donnelly that it could be about 1,500.

Records from CervicalCheck show that 1,482 cases were reviewed since 2008. Of these, 208 were shown to have ‘false negatives’.

HSE boss Tony O’Brien’s position will be defended by the Government in the face of growing calls for his resignation.

Political pressure is mounting on the outgoing HSE chief – but sources indicated ministers will continue to express confidence in his leadership.

It has also emerged Mr Harris was told two weeks ago that Ms Phelan was being asked to sign a confidentiality agreement as part of a settlement but she refused.