Statement by TUV chairman and Cusher Councillor Keith Ratcliffe:
“It was a privilege to accompany the Ladies with Letters group to a meeting with the Health Minister at Stormont, advocating for a statutory public inquiry into screening for cervical cancer in the Southern Trust —something Erin Harbinson’s and Lynsey Courtney’s families clearly deserve.
“Erin, who passed away far too young at 44, was a beacon of hope and a tireless advocate for justice through the Ladies with Letters group. Lynsey, who tragically passed at just 30, was another life taken too soon. At a recent meeting set up by ABC Council and the Southern Trust, I presented the RC Path Consulting report. I explained to the Health Minister that when I asked the Southern Trust multiple questions about the damning report unfortunately none of these questions were answered.
“I am pleased that my party colleague, Timothy Gaston MLA, has pledged to take the fight to Stormont and has already, in the Assembly’s first week back, tabled a series of questions to the Minister which get to the heart of the issue.”
Timothy Gaston added:
“It is my view that nothing short of a full public inquiry is going to get to the bottom of this issue and deliver the answers which people deserve and I will be pressing the Minister to establish such. In the meantime, I have tabled a number of questions which I trust Minister Nesbitt will give full and honest answers to.”
Note to editors
The questions which Mr Gaston has tabled are as follows:
To ask the Minister of Health if he will announce a public inquiry into the issues around screening for cancer in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.
To ask the Minister of Health, in light of the Royal College of Pathologists Consulting Report for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, dated 18 May 2023, for his assessment of whether patients who have had a negative test can have confidence in screening.
To ask the Minister of Health in light of the Royal College of Pathologists Consulting Report for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT), dated 18 May 2023, why it took eight months from when concerns were raised about the performance of the screeners until a paper was brought to the SHSCT senior management team.
To ask the Minister of Health in light of the Royal College of Pathologists Consulting Report for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, dated 18 May 2023, to detail why evidence of persistent under-achievement by two screeners between 2010 and 2022 was not acted upon.
To ask the Minister of Health in light of the Royal College of Pathologists Consulting Report for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, dated 18 May 2023, to detail any action being taken to address the lack of screeners.
To ask the Minister of Health in light of the Royal College of Pathologists Consulting Report for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, dated 18 May 2023, why Northern Ireland has agreed deviations from quality assurance standards used in England.
To ask the Minister of Health what action has been taken to progress recommendation 2 of the Rcpath Consulting Report for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust dated 18/05/2023.