Number of women affected by CervicalCheck controversy may be much higher

Opposition TDs called the revelation "a bombshell".

On Tuesday night in the Dáil, Minister for Health Simon Harris revealed that a potentially considerable number of cervical cancer cases have not been clinically audited. He estimated that it "may be double" the initial number of the CervicalCheck audits carried out on the 1,482 previous cervical screening tests on women who were diagnosed with cervical cancer from 2008 to 2018. The recent scandal revealed that of the 1,482 women who were notified to CervicalCheck as being diagnosed with cervical cancer, it was found that in the cases of 208 women, on look-back, the screening test could have provided a different result or a warning of increased risk or evidence of developing cancer. Harris stated as follows:

"While CervicalCheck has audited all cases notified to it, I have been informed that a potentially considerable number of cases would not have been subjected to an audit of their screening history. "[These are] not new cases of cancer, nor is it a group of women wondering if they have cancer. These are women who've already been diagnosed with cervical cancer and treated as such, but their cases have not been included in a clinical audit."

They HSE also released an apology on Tuesday, saying:

"The HSE and the CervicalCheck programme today reiterated its deepest apologies to women for any worry caused by the evolving situation around the cervical screening programme and its recent audit process. "The HSE is keen to provide reassurance to those who may be concerned following the significant media coverage in recent days. With this in mind, the HSE is providing an overview of what has happened to date and advice for women below. "Further information and updates for the public will be provided over the coming days on cervicalcheck.ie."