Third Misdiagnosis Case at Ennis?

The head of the Irish Health Service Executive (HSE), Prof. Brendan Drumm, has said there may be a third cancer misdiagnosis case at Ennis General Hospital (photo). But the details still had to be validated.

The HSE West issued a statement saying it is "aware of a number of other concerned patients" following the recent issues at Ennis General Hospital. These concerns are "being addressed with each of the patients" and it is seeking to address their issues.

Meanwhile the Director of the National Cancer Strategy, Prof. Tom Keane, said he does not believe much would be learned from independent inquiries into breast cancer misdiagnoses in Ennis (Co. Clare).
There were "systems errors" made in both the cases of Ann Moriarty and Edel Kelly, but the likelihood of a repeat of such errors in the future had been "significantly reduced".

Another senior cancer specialist said that independent inquiries into breast cancer misdiagnoses of two women at Ennis General Hospital "may not be of value to the public in general". Prof. Arnold Hill, the national adviser on surgical oncology at the National Cancer Control Programme, stated that "vast improvements have been made to services recently".

Meanwhile Fine Gael Health spokesman Dr. James Reilly, TD said that this latest case demands an independent inquiry "as a matter of urgency".

The Emerald Islander