‘Deeply flawed’ CervicalCheck tribunal sees just 26 claims, with 385 taken through courts

Only 26 claims have been sent into the CervicalCheck tribunal – while 385 claims have now been taken through the courts, new figures reveal.

The 26 claims taken through the tribunal represent only 6% of the cases taken through the courts.

The CervicalCheck tribunal was set up to hear legal cases from women who developed cancer after they got wrong smear test results.

While it was designed to provide fast-track compensation without having to go to court, it has been criticised by campaigners, as most women who were affected still opted to go through the courts system instead.

Dozens of Irish women were diagnosed with cervical cancer after being incorrectly told by the State’s CervicalCheck screening programme that their smear tests were clear.

The scandal emerged when Vicky Phelan revealed she had settled her case against a US laboratory.

The new figures were set out to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín in response to a parliamentary question to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.

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Source: Irish Independent, 7 August 2023