Fine Gael has backed a call for an independent inquiry into the latest cancer misdiagnosis case after serious errors were made in the case of a 53-year-old woman who died of breast cancer earlier this year.
The family of Ann Moriarty yesterday called for an independent review of all x-rays read at Ennis General Hospital after two internal Health Service Executive (HSE) reports found serious errors were made in her case.
Tests that showed the likelihood of cancer were filed away without being acted upon. Ms Moriarty died on April 25th.
Fine Gael health spokesman Dr James Reilly said it was “appalling” that a family had to “yet again” resort to going to the media to get answers about the circumstances surrounding the death of a loved one.
“This incident involving hospitals in Ennis and Dublin, coming on top of similar episodes in Portlaoise, Limerick, Galway, Cork and the north east, is evidence of widespread system failure where different people are making the same mistakes and the same problems of misdiagnosis are recurring,” he said.
“Litanies of previous investigations have proposed recommendations which have been accepted by both Minister Martin and Minister Harney but never put in place and communications sent directly to the health Minister have not been acted on.
Dr Reilly said he supported Ms Moriarty’s husband, Karl Henry, in his demand for a meeting with the Minister.