HSE defends BowelScreen after missed cancers controversy

Wexford hospital review found disease was not detected in a number of patients

The operation of the State’s national bowel screening programme is under scrutiny following controversy over a number of missed cancers at Wexford hospital.

The number of missed cancers found during a review of patients who underwent colonoscopies at the hospital in 2013 and 2014 stands at 13, with one probable death that could have been avoided.

The review is understood to raise a number of issues in relation to the BowelScreen programme.

These issues relate to the criteria used to audit the performances of the doctors assessing the results of colonoscopies, as well as the length of time elapsing between contacts with patients. Read the full article.

This article originally appeared in The Irish Times on Thursday, 18th February 2016.