CervicalCheck audit ‘needs to take priority’

ANOTHER AUDIT NEEDED Campaigner Tara Bleeks.

Áine Ryan

AN audit of 1,800 smears that were part of the CervicalCheck system must be prioritised by Government. That is according to the Mayo organiser of the Standing4Women campaign, Ms Tara Bleeks, who was speaking in the aftermath of the tragic death last week of Emma Mhic MhΡthuna and another victim who wished to remain anonymous.  
Ms Bleeks referred to the fact that Dr Gabriel Scally’s scoping inquiry, commissioned by the Government,  confirmed that the number of affected women will increase from the already identified 221.
“There remains at least 1,800 smears to be audited and it is unclear if all women and the next of kin of women who have passed away have been informed that they will be part of the audit, and there is the uncomfortable and tragic reality that some of the women yet to be audited are seriously ill and are running out of time. These audits need to take priority above and beyond anything else,” Ms Bleeks said.   
“It is also not only essential but it should be mandatory that a point of contact for the women and families who will be affected by these audits is set up and provided for immediately by the HSE and CervicalCheck. In Mayo, Westport local Shay McGreal waited for nearly three months for a call back from the CervicalCheck helpline after making an enquiry about his beloved partner of 22 years Deirdre Feehan, who passed away from cervical cancer in December 2017,” she continued.
Speaking also Mr McGreal said: “Given Dr Scally has established what he has – and given that he said cervical check was doomed from the beginning – it raises serious concerns for the additional reviews that are to be done. In light of the Scally report the government should now make the reviews a priority and give a definitive date as to when they conclude. The least Minister for Health Simon Harris can do is provide women and families who still await the results of audits confirmation that the reviews have begun, not forgetting Leo Varadkar’s previous assurance they would be concluded by May of this year,  and an adequate point of contact for us.”