The Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, has been urged to establish a public inquiry into all aspects of gynaecological and obstetric care over the last 20 years at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
A former consultant obstetrician/gynaecologist at the hospital, Mr Michael Neary, resigned last year after concern was expressed about the abnormally high number of caesarean hysterectomies he had performed.
A report by three colleagues from the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists found that the clinical practice in regard to caesarean hysterectomies was unacceptable in 46.2 per cent of the cases reviewed, doubtful in 12.8 per cent, and acceptable in 41 per cent. His case is due to come before the Medical Council's Fitness to Practise Committee.
The patients' lobby group, Patient Focus, is demanding a wide investigation into treatment, other than obstetric care, and into procedures including caesarian hysterectomy carried out at the hospital. The group is currently in contact with 50 women who were patients of the hospital and were concerned about the treatment they received.
The Patient Focus spokesman, Mr Tony O'Sullivan, said the majority of these patients were pursuing legal action against Mr Neary, the hospital and the North Eastern Health Board. Patient Focus said it had been told during meetings attended by health board officials that no caesarean hysterectomies had been undertaken at the hospital since October 1998.
"We fear that the lessons of these events may never be addressed, considered or implemented, either locally or nationally, without intervention at the highest political level," Mr O'Sullivan said.
The group also wants Mr Cowen to change health service procedures, the consultant contract and other aspects of professional regulation to improve accountability and facilitate disclosure of future concerns by health workers and patients.
The women were disappointed that consultant accountability was inadequate, to the extent that the real reasons for the events in Drogheda would probably never be known. The 50 women who have come forward to date have received unreserved apologies from hospital and health board representatives.
Access to copies of their files has been provided. The health board has also offered them further professional assessment of their cases, either through detailed analysis of records by a UK-based team or by discussion of their cases and records with one of several experts in Ireland.
Counselling has been provided for the women as well as support from the health board for medical consultations needed to rectify the medical and psychological consequences of previous treatment at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.
Patient Focus can be contacted through Mr O'Sullivan (0872630442) or Ms Sheila O'Connor (01-4931526).