Latest news with #LadieswithLetters
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Cervical screening: Campaign group 'no further forward'
A campaign group have said they feel "no further forward" following a briefing on the Cytology Screening Review at a health committee meeting on with Letters was set up after a major review of cervical screening was announced in the Southern Health October 2023, BBC News NI revealed about 17,500 women in Northern Ireland are to have their smear tests re-checked as part of a major review of cervical screening dating back to Department of Health (DoH), Public Health Agency (PHA) and Southern and Belfast Health Trusts appeared before Stormont's health committee. "No one has taken accountability for the scandal that happened over 13 years and, as a group, we still have many questions that remain unanswered - how did this happen, why did it continue for 13 years and who is going to take responsibility?" the campaign group said. Expert opinion on reports nearly completed In December 2024, two reports were published by the Southern Health Trust and PHA following the cervical cytology health committee heard that an expert opinion of these reports, a peer review report by NHS England and several patient learning reviews are nearly will be published "imminently" in August or Ladies with Letters said in a statement that the delays were "adding to the frustration and disappointment felt by many of the ladies we are in contact with".They said they "cannot understand why a statutory public inquiry has not already been initiated" and that the more they heard today, "the more it seems that the whole cervical screening system is in disarray"."Our firm view is that in order to learn lessons for the future and to restore public confidence in the Cervical Screening Programme in Northern Ireland, we need to establish the full, unvarnished facts of what has happened."This will only happen through a statutory public inquiry which has the power to compel witnesses and evidence from all relevant stakeholders, and more importantly, allow those affected by the scandal to have a voice," they said. Enda McGarrity, solicitor for the Ladies with Letters said the failures that have occurred have been on an "unprecedented scale".He said the group have engaged with the health minister on these issues for more than a year and they have "waited long enough"."Their request is a simple one - the minister should without further delay establish a statutory public inquiry with full powers to compel evidence, witnesses and which places those who have suffered most at the heart of its work," he said.
ITV News
03-07-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Campaign group calls for public inquiry into cervical screening failures
A campaign group set up following a major review of cervical screening in a Northern Ireland health trust has said it is time for a statutory public inquiry to be established. The Ladies with Letters group said they are 'no further forward' in relation to their concerns being addressed after attending a meeting of the Stormont Health Committee which received an update on the Cytology Screening Review. Around 17,500 women in the Southern Trust area who were screened between 2008 and 2021 had to have their smear tests rechecked after concerns were first raised in a report commissioned by the Royal College of Pathologists. It emerged last year that the trust review showed that eight women went on to develop cancer after their smears were misread and another 11 women needed pre-cancerous treatment. At the time, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said the review would be the subject of independent expert analysis after which he would decide on the next steps. At the committee on Thursday, Professor Lourda Geoghegan, deputy chief medical officer at the Department of Health, updated MLAs on the next steps. She said: 'The minister's aim is he wants to understand very clearly what occurred in relation to this screening programme, particularly in relation to the service as it was delivered in the Southern Trust. 'He wants to understand why it happened, he wants to understand what the responsibilities are across it, he wants to understand that lessons have been learnt and that such matters will not happen again.' She said a number of further reports were coming to a conclusion which would be published at the same time. She said this included an expert opinion from outside Northern Ireland on the previous reports published, a report of a peer review visit undertaken by NHS England and a number of learning reviews involving patients. Ms Geoghegan said the new reports would potentially be published in August or September. The Ladies with Letters group was established by a number of women who received letters from the trust informing them their smear tests were being re-examined. Several members watched the committee proceedings. Their lawyer Enda McGarrity said: 'After listening to the questions put to the Southern Health and Social Care Trust and the Public Health Agency by the health committee members, we feel, as we're sure the health committee do, that we are no further forward. 'No-one has taken accountability for the scandal that happened over 13 years and, as a group, we still have many questions that remain unanswered – how did this happen, why did it continue for 13 years and who is going to take responsibility?' Mr McGarrity added: 'Ladies with Letters has engaged with the Minister for Health on these issues for over a year. 'They have waited long enough, and their patience is wearing thin. 'Their request is a simple one – the minister should without further delay establish a statutory public inquiry with full powers to compel evidence, witnesses and which places those who have suffered most at the heart of its work.' Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.
