Tánaiste says legal issues delaying mammogram report

Tánaiste Brian Cowen has confirmed there is a legal challenge over the publication of the report of a review of mammograms read at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise.

The review of about 3,000 mammograms dating back to November 2003 was undertaken by Dr Ann O'Doherty of BreastCheck and St Vincent's hospital, Dublin, and sent to the HSE.

Speaking in Tullamore yesterday, Mr Cowen said he understood the anxiety of the patients who were the subject of the review, particularly the nine families where women were misdiagnosed.

But Mr Cowen said those affected "will understand also that there are legal issues raised by third parties, not within the control of the Government". He said "obviously" the report would be published as soon as the Government received legal clearance.

Mr Cowen said he would have liked the report, which was first promised last month, to have been published by now. But he said "as soon as we get legal clearance to publish the report we will do so. As you know legal matters are arising that people are entitled to raise, and we will deal with these as quickly as possible."

In addition to the medical review, two separate reviews of the HSE's handling of the Portlaoise breast cancer controversy have now been commissioned. A review has been set up by the HSE board which is to be carried out by former Dublin city manager John Fitzgerald, while the HSE chief executive, Prof Brendan Drumm, has initiated his own review.

The review for Prof Drumm is to be chaired by Ann Doherty, national director of corporate planning and control processes with the HSE. She will be assisted by Mary Shore, director of quality, risk and consumer affairs at Dublin's St Vincent's hospital, and Barry O'Brien, assistant national director of human resources with HSE South.

It is understood the review will cover the decision to place a consultant radiologist at the hospital on administrative leave and the decision to initiate a review of breast scans at the hospital going back to November 2003.