Women’s experiences must be at the centre of CervicalCheck Inquiry

Published: Tuesday, June 12, 2018

In response to the first findings of the inquiry into CervicalCheck, the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) welcomes Dr Scally’s call for additional resources to be made available to document the experiences of women. NWCI also calls on all relevant agencies to expedite the provision of all necessary documentation to the inquiry team.  

Orla O’Connor, Director of NWCI said,

"The testimony and actions of the women and their families affected by the CervicalCheck has been a huge inspiration for women throughout Ireland. They have exposed issues in their care which have had devastating consequences for them personally and have also raised concerns for women’s health in Ireland. NWCI welcomes the clear emphasis Dr Gabriel Scally’s Inquiry is placing on listening to the affected women and documenting their experiences. NWCI calls for sufficient resources to be made available for structured conversations with every affected woman, or bereaved family, who wishes to have their experience with the health service documented.”

She continued,

“Given the significant distress caused to women over the past months, we are concerned about any delay in the inquiry. Today’s Interim Report indicates that much of the documentation requested from Department of Health, the HSE, the State Claims Agency and the National Cancer Registry of Ireland has been provided only in recent days. NWCI calls on health authorities to be fully forthcoming in the provision of documents to the inquiry team.”

Dr Clíona Loughnane, NWCI’s Women’s Health Coordinator said,

“As the inquiry continues, the 209 affected women and families must be given immediate access to supports and treatment to improve their care and ease their suffering in whatever way that is possible. NWCI continues to be concerned that some affected women are embroiled in legal cases. There are also reports of significant delays for women to access their personal health files.  We are calling for the immediate release of medical records for the women seeking them.”

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For more information, please contact Silke Paasche, Head of Communications, Tel. 085 858 9104.