01/08/2018

Vicky Phelan To Take A Break From Campaigning

Vicky Phelan has confirmed she will be taking a break from campaigning on the Cervical Check scandal.

Ms Phelan said that she was "deeply disturbed" by some people and their attitude towards some of the affected women.

She is to meet with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to discuss the issue today, 01 August.

In a number of tweets, Ms Phelan said: "I will be taking a break from Twitter and from all #CervicalCheck Scandal campaigning after tomorrow, some of you will be glad to know.

"I am deeply disturbed by the lack of empathy in some quarters towards the women & families affected by the scandal.

"I can only speak for myself here. For those of you who are condemning me for 'bringing down the cervical screening programme', I never missed a smear and NEVER had an abnormal smear until I was diagnosed in July 2014 with invasive cervical cancer.

“I found out THREE years later, in Sept 2017, that a smear from 2011, which was originally read as No Abnormality Detected' was, when audited, full of CANCER, not pre-cancerour CINI, II or III but Squamous Cell Carcinoma. P8 for the medical heads.

"IF my smear in 2011 had been CORRECTLY read, I would only have had to have a hysterectomy and would have had a 90 per cent chance of being cured.

"I will be fighting to stay alive for the rest of my life so forgive me if I am angry and upset and fighting for change."

(CD/LM)

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