Government Attacked On Cancer Mistakes

The Dáil has been forced to extend a debate on cancer care services amid mounting opposition anger over the botched diagnoses of at least seven women.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore accused the Taoiseach of giving a "cowardly" reply to his questions and claimed he was trying to blame everybody else except the Government.

Opening the original debate, Minister for Health Mary Harney offered an unreserved apology to the women who were wrongly given the all-clear by Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise.

"Today is a day when patient safety should come before hospitals, before constituencies, before the professions and also before the cynicism and defeatism about achieving top class quality-assured health services," she said.

She said that a review by consultant radiologist Dr Ann O'Doherty will be completed this week and published by the end of November.

A helpline is also being operated by the Portlaoise hospital for people who need further information.

A total of 3,026 mammograms were reviewed and seven of these patients were subsequently diagnosed with cancer. A further six women are being tested this week.

Fine Gael Enda Kenny earlier told the Dáil that the women of Ireland deserved more than 80 minutes to debate the issue.

Labour health spokeswoman Jan O'Suillivan added: "We must have more time or this parliament will have lost all relevance to the people of Ireland."

Sinn Féin's Caoimhghin O'Caolain complained that 60% of all parliamentary questions to the Health Minister were being "kicked to touch" to the Health Service Executive.

Government Chief Whip Tom Kitt then agreed to extend the time to take statements and to hold a later questions-and-answers period with Harney.

(BMcC)