Eight women who developed cervical cancer were misdiagnosed as negative by a screener in the Southern Health Trust, a review has found.
The slides of a further 11 women previously found to be not at any risk had hre-cancerous changes in the cells when reviewed.
More than 16,000 women in the region smear tested between 2009 and 2023 had their results reviewed after an independent report concluded “a significant number of women were likely to have received negative screening” that would have been identified as abnormal in other laboratories.
The data revealed 207 women were diagnosed by the trust with cervical cancer over the 14 years, with 12 found by a screener to be negative for cancer or the result was inadequate.
Of the screenings of the 12, eight were inaccurate. The 11 flagged as pre-cancerous were among the wider cohort who have not developed cancer.
Every year, approximately 80 women in Northern Ireland are diagnosed with cervical cancer, with 20 dying. Screening, including examination of the cervix checking for pre-cancerous identifiers, can prevent seven out of 10 developing the disease.
The review began in October 2023 following an independent Royal College of Pathologists (RCPATH) report that found “persistent underperformance” in the work of some laboratory screeners.
An investigation and then the commissioning of the report followed the believed misdiagnoses of three women, which prompted Serious Adverse Incident alarms. Two of the women, Lynsey Courtney and Erin Harbinson, have since died.
Dr Stephen Austin, Southern Trust medical director, said the Cervical Cytology Review Outcomes report shows that “for the vast majority of the women included in the review, their original result did not change”.
“The purpose of the review was to check that the original result provided was correct and to identify anyone who may have been given an incorrect result,” Dr Austin said.
“While it is reassuring that the vast majority of previous smear results have been reconfirmed as normal, the review has identified eleven women who are now receiving follow up care from our gynaecology services.
“We acknowledge that the failings in the cervical cytology laboratory extended beyond individual staff members and included system failings. The Southern Trust and PHA are committed to ensuring these failures never happen again.
“I wish to sincerely apologise again to women and their families for any distress caused by this Review process and the publication of the outcomes report.”
Stella McLoughlin, of the campaign group Ladies with Letters, said what happened was an “absolute scandal from start to finish” and is calling for a public inquiry.
“Smears being misread, people not being held to account, screeners not being managed properly - all of this is affecting real people,” Ms McLoughlin told the BBC.
A total of just over 17,500 women were approached and asked if they wanted a review of their screening results. Over 95% either agreed or were able to be contacted.
Dr Joanne McClean, Director of Public Health at the PHA, said: “In parallel with the review being undertaken there have been important improvements to the Northern Ireland Cervical Screening Programme.
“The primary HPV method of cervical screening is now in place in Northern Ireland, which has increased our ability to detect early cell changes that could lead to cancer.”
