FRESH calls have been made for a public inquiry into the Southern Trust’s cervical screening programme after two senior medics resigned in protest.
Last week, an independent review into cervical screening in the Southern Trust found that eight women developed cancer after their smear tests were misread - including two who lost their lives - Lysney Courtney and Erin Harbinson.
Another 11 women also needed pre-cancerous treatment after their tests were misread.
The two doctors to resign have now warned there could be “another major scandal” in the future without further action.
Dr Gary Dorman and another medic resigned from the Northern Ireland Cervical Screening Programme (NICSP) in protest over reducing Northern Ireland’s four cytology laboratories to one at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
Both are employed by the Northern Trust, which had been home to one of the four cytology labs.
The BBC report that in a letter to the Public Health Agency, they allege that HPV testing was taking place at the Royal Victoria Hospital without the correct accreditation, a proper governance and accountability structure as well as without documentation relating to screening underperformance.
Expressing “deep concerns that major issues have not been acted upon” to guarantee women in Northern Ireland the best possible screening programme, they urged the Public Health Agency to “take corrective action before it is too late and another major scandal falls within the NICSP.”
The Alliance Party has now supported calls for a full public inquiry into the Southern Trust’s screening programme.
Alliance health spokesperson, Nuala McAllister MLA, said: “These resignations only prompt more questions as to the efficacy of the cervical screening process and how it has been allowed to reach such a dangerous point.
“That two senior medics have chosen to resign after being made to feel their concerns were being ignored is cause for extreme worry and raises even more red flags about the running of the service.”
She urged the health minister Mike Nesbitt to back a statutory public inquiry to counter the “chaos and uncertainty.” “If we are to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, we must heed the warnings of health professionals now and make sure their concerns are fully investigated. Women’s health is far too important for faith to be lost in such a crucial service.”
Received your cervical screening results letter and not sure what your results mean? We’ve got you covered!
— Public Health Agency (@publichealthni) November 27, 2024
For more info on cervical screening in Northern Ireland, visit https://t.co/AnJhw6HysS pic.twitter.com/OrsY8gN2uZ
A PHA spokesperson confirmed the two clinical leads for the NICSP informed them they wished to resign in July.
They refuted the “significant assertions” in their letter, calling the NICSP a “well-designed and effective programme which saves lives,” and that it was “essential” that women attend for screening when invited.
They said the reconfiguration of laboratory services was essential as part of the planned implementation of HPV testing, which had “markedly reduced” the volume of cervical samples which require cytology reporting, and could only be sustained safely on one site.
All health trusts were given a chance to submit a costed application to provide the new regional laboratory service, scored by an independent panel, with the Belfast Trust selected.
The spokesperson recognised it had been a difficult transition for staff in other laboratories who had provided local screening over many years, but the priority was to provide a safe, sustainable service that helped prevent women from developing cervical cancer.
A Department of Health spokesperson said the decision to move to a single regional laboratory was led by the PHA following a robust process which included an external independent expert.
Changes in the testing process also meant it was necessary to concentrate expertise and staff resource in one specialist laboratory.
The Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has also said he will make further decisions on the review of services in the Southern Trust in the new year, when independent analysis has been completed.
“I wish to again fully acknowledge the distress caused by this review and the shortcomings detailed in the earlier report from the Royal College of Pathologists. It is both deeply regrettable and unacceptable,” he said.
