Wexford hospital relatives express concern over review

The family of one of 13 Wexford hospital patients whose bowel cancer was not diagnosed has said they are concerned about potential delays in releasing the findings of an ongoing internal review into the controversy.

James Fitzpatrick attended the hospital in March 2014 but was given the all-clear after bowel screening.

He was subsequently diagnosed with the disease one year later after visiting the hospital’s A&E department.

He heard media reports of the missed cancers controversy on Wednesday but did not receive official confirmation his case was one of those included in the review until Thursday.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One's Drivetime programme, Mr Fitzpatrick's daughter Dee said the family had been told the release of the review's findings may be delayed as a result of the media leak.

“It’s very difficult for him because he is wondering what’s in that report,” she said.

“Will he ever get to read it? We don’t know the timeline on that. And you know for ourselves and for the other families, time may not be on many people’s side to be able to get to see the report.”

The cases relate to the State’s national bowel screening programme, BowelScreen between 2013 and 2014 .

The current review of colonoscopies at the hospital is understood to have raised a number of concerns with regard to the screening programme.

Uncertainty

Ms Fitzpatrick said the uncertainty the review raises about her father’s treatment will remain with the family for the rest of their lives.

“If things were caught in 2014 would it be different today . . . that’s a question we will have forever, that dad will have forever,” she said.

“So it’s not a nice place to be in. They are the things that can wake you up at night and [you think], if it could just be different.”

She said there was no advance warning of the details of the review emerging in the media.

“It brings everything back. It’s quite shocking, I mean really physically shocking and you feel quite out of control because somebody has information you don’t know.

“It really unsettled dad in particular. Where he had been in good spirits, he’s now back questioning everything again.”

The HSE has said it regretted any distress caused by the missed cancers, which resulted in one death that could probably have been avoided.

It also defended the bowel screening programme.

In a statement on Friday, the health executive said: “”In managing this matter, the priority was to address any patient concerns.

“This has been completed and patients (and their families) have received full and open disclosure.

“The HSE regret any distress which has resulted for patients and all other parties.

“The public can be assured that we have acted quickly to ensure the safety of services in the hospital concerned.”