“They’ve learned nothing from Vicky” – Women associated with CervicalCheck group say they were refused treatment by clinicians, claiming they were ‘treated like a leper’

It has emerged that doctors have refused treatment to several women associated with a group that advocates for people affected by the CervicalCheck controversy.

One woman described being “treated like a leper” after being questioned by a doctor about any association with the 221+ group.

Some doctors have asked if they were members of the group before considering treating them.

Advocacy group 221+ was created in July 2018 by Stephen Teap, Lorraine Walsh, and the late Vicky Phelan.

Publishing his 39-page report on the implementation of the recommendations from his 2018 outreach survey of the CervicalCheck screening program, Dr. Gabriel Scally said some women associated with the group felt like “second-class citizens.”

After the report was published, Ms Walsh said some people involved in the group found it difficult to find doctors to treat them.

“In other cases, they call up the consultant’s office and they’re asked are they a member of 221, and if they are, they’re told that unfortunately they don’t have any space to take them on. It’s very sad because a lot of these women need continued care and are dependent on their clinicians to ensure their health for the future,” reports The Mirror.

In a statement, the group said it had “mixed feelings” about Dr. Scally’s report.

“It commends fair progress made that is important because protecting and strengthening the future of screening is critically important. It also reflects our long-expressed concerns that there remains an active determination within the Irish healthcare system to avoid dealing up front with things that go wrong and with respecting those who point out those missteps,” the group said, reports The Mirror.

Mr Teap, whose wife Irene died of cervical cancer, called for the enactment of the legislation in respect of patient safety and open disclosure.

“This process began in 2019 with Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach. It’s now been handed over to Micheal Martin as Taoiseach and it now going to be handed back to Leo Varadkar very shortly. It hasn’t moved on in any shape or form. This is the most important thing that Vicky Phelan wanted to see through and this is the biggest thing that is left hanging here still today. Since March 2022, this report says that this hasn’t moved a step,” he said, reports The Mirror.

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