Some of the 10 breast cancer patients from Barringtons' private hospital in Limerick, whose records were independently vetted for the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), had undergone surgery without first having a mammogram or ultrasound carried out, it has emerged.
The director of cancer services in the midwest, Prof Rajnish Gupta, said some of the women "did not have prior imaging of their breast before a biopsy and/or breast surgery". But he said it was "mandatory" nowadays for a patient to undergo imaging first.
The 10 women in question were treated over the last few years. One of them has since died.
Details of the 10 cases were supplied to HIQA by Prof Gupta last month because he was concerned at the way breast cancer patients were being managed at Barringtons' and the fact that they were not being looked after by a multidisciplinary team.
HIQA had the cases independently assessed by Prof Arnold Hill, professor of surgery at Dublin's Beaumont Hospital, and Dr Ann O'Doherty, a consultant radiologist with BreastCheck, and they too expressed serious concerns about what they found.
As a result, the Department of Health put pressure on Barringtons' to stop treating breast cancer patients and Minister for Health Mary Harney last week ordered a review of the records of all breast cancer patients seen at the private hospital between September 2003 and August 2007.
Ms Harney is due to meet representatives of Barringtons' Hospital in Dublin this evening to discuss the matter further. She said she wanted to discuss putting in place, "on a co-operative basis, an examination of all the cases that go back to 2003, because 10, as we heard, was a sample from the number of cases dealt with since 2003". She said she wanted to discuss the type of investigation that would take place with not only the Attorney General, but also with the hospital.
Denis Cahalane, the managing director of the hospital, said he was still awaiting an agenda for the meeting from the Department of Health. "The Minister has called the meeting . . . we are going to listen to what she has to say," he said.
Asked about the types of concerns which had been raised in relation to the management of 10 patients in particular at his hospital over the last few years, he said: "I can't comment because I haven't seen the report [ from Prof Hill], nor have I been advised what patients they are actually talking about."
He added that the hospital was seeking legal advice in relation to Prof Gupta's allegations.
In response, Prof Gupta said: "Although I do not wish to be drawn into a legal confrontation with Barringtons', the prospect does not worry me. It would allow me to clarify and provide more details of my concerns not only regarding the 10 patients but of additional patients, including some who had other forms of cancer."
He welcomed the fact that the Minister was now planning a review of the care given to all breast cancer patients at Barringtons' since September 2003.
Meanwhile, the Irish Cancer Society has urged Ms Harney to order the Health Service Executive to urgently implement recommendations made last May in the National Quality Assurance Standards for Symptomatic Breast Disease Services report.