Reilly to draft new Neary redress plans

Minister for Health James Reilly has said he will draft proposals before the Dáil's summer recess to compensate women excluded from the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital redress scheme.

He said his department had been engaged in a review to consider various mechanisms to compensate those women who were excluded on age grounds alone.

“This review involves taking instruction and legal advice, including advice from the Office of the Attorney General with a view to bringing proposals on a scheme to Government for a decision.’’

Replying to Labour TDs Brendan Ryan and Dominic Hannigan, the Minister said the scheme was established following the findings and recommendations contained in the report of an inquiry into the high number of hysterectomies carried out at the hospital. The inquiry was charied by Judge Maureen Harding Clark and its report was published in 2006.

The judge subsequently gave advice on a redress scheme for women whose wombs had been removed. But around 35 women damaged by former obstetrician Michael Neary were excluded from the 2007 redress scheme for reasons including, in some cases, their age when the operations were performed.

Dr Neary was struck off the medical register in 2003 for carrying out an excessive number of hysterectomies at the Drogheda hospital.

Dr Reilly said that during the inquiry Judge Harding Clark became aware there were patients at the Drogheda hospital who had undergone a bilateral oophorectomy (had both ovaries removed) which was not clinically necessary. “These women lost the ability to reproduce and suffered immediate surgical menopause.’’

The Minister said the scheme's objective was to provide compensation to Dr Neary's former patients who underwent unnecessary obstetric hysterectomies and also to women under 40 who underwent unnecessary bilateral oophorectomy.

'Horrific procedure'

Earlier, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said he understood an independent report by Dr Oonagh Walsh on symphysiotomy was about to be published. He said many of the victims of the horrific procedure - which involved breaking their pelvises to allow easier delivery of a baby - were very elderly, waiting a very long time for justice.

Mr Adams added that about 350 of the 1,500 symphysiotomies were carried out in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, in many cases without the consent of the women involved.

“There are now just over 200 survivors, some of whom are quite frail,’’ he added. “

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the Department of Health had received Dr Walsh’s report at the end of May and its conclusions were being studied.

“The Minister for Health is very anxious to ensure appropriate treatment for the women concerned is made available,’’ the Taoiseach added.

“The finalised report will inform the Government’s consideration of how best to deal with this issue and any action it may decide to take in response to its recommendations or to any of the legal implications that arises from it.’’Mr Adams said the matter should be expedited before the summer recess.