New Furor Over Cancer Care

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Irish Voice News

New Furor Over Cancer Care

September 25, 2008

By Paddy Clancy

THERE are growing demands for a wide-ranging investigation of cancer services following the revelation of the death of a young mother after her illness was misdiagnosed in the same hospital that gave another patient the all-clear before her life was also claimed by cancer.

Edel Kelly, a 26-year-old mother of two boys aged three and six, died last June in Ennis General Hospital while she was preparing legal action against the Health Service Executive (HSE) for bungling that she claimed deprived her of a chance of life.

Her family decided to put aside their private grief and go public with details of Edel’s battle after the hospital last week claimed the death of the other woman, Ann Moriarty, in April was an isolated case. Moriarty, 53, died after doctors three times gave her the all clear. Widespread fury over her case was reported in the Irish Voice last week.

Anger against the health service and its political head, Health Minister Mary Harney, has been exacerbated to an incalculable degree by the story of what happened to Kelly.

She underwent tests in July 2006 after she found a lump on her breast. She was given the all-clear in December of that year.

In June 2007, she went to her doctor complaining of back pain, and then, in October last year, she was admitted to the Ennis hospital, vomiting blood and complaining of persistent back pain.

At this point, a large lump had formed on her left breast. She went to hospital in Limerick where it was confirmed that not only did she have breast cancer but she had also developed secondary symptoms.

Edel, from Kilrush, Co Clare, died on June 21, leaving her partner Noel McGreene and sons, six-year-old Jack and three-year-old Lee.

The Ennis hospital is already at the center of a high-profile call for a public review of cancer care after Moriarty’s husband, Karl Henry, met Harney on Wednesday of last week.

Edel’s parents have called for the same in their daughter’s case. They have also called for the resignation of Harney.

Edel’s father, John Kelly, said he would have a lot of things to say to Harney at a meeting the family is seeking with the minister.

“She has no respect for the people who put her there. If she has any respect for herself and people’s lives she should just walk out,” Kelly said.

The family solicitor, Eugene O’Kelly, said the HSE had handed over medical records which had been passed on to a London-based oncologist who had found “shortcomings” in relation to her treatment.

Edel’s mother, Una Kelly, said that when her daughter discovered she had cancer despite initial assurances that a lump on her breast was harmless, she planned to take legal action against the HSE.

Una Kelly said, “She could have had a few more years left and more time with her boys.

“We knew she wanted to take legal action and she was very determined to do it. Edel’s reason for looking for an inquiry was to ensure that it wouldn’t happen to anyone else. We want to follow that through and finish what she started. We were shocked when the story about Ann Moriarty’s death broke.

“God knows how many others are out there. We want an independent inquiry into all cases at Ennis.”

Sheila O’Connor, of lobby group Patient Focus, said, “I don’t think people will be satisfied until there is an independent overall review of the breast cancer services.”

Main Opposition health spokesman James Reilly of Fine Gael said the public would only be satisfied when there was an independent examination of the two cases.

Local Fine Gael TD (member of Parliament) Joe Carey said, “This is no longer an internal HSE matter after we were assured in recent weeks the Ann Moriarty case was an isolated one and there was no systematic failure. An enquiry must take place to restore public and patient confidence in Ennis General Hospital.”

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