Protesters ‘ready to make some noise’ to end CervicalCheck ‘nightmare’

By COLIN BARTLEY

PROTESTERS are set to join Kilkenny to Waterford to try and bring an end to the CervicalCheck screening ‘nightmare’.

A women’s health support group is to put pressure on the Government to put into action recommendations from the Scally report, and to stop putting women’s health at risk.

Mná na Deise are holding the protest on Rice Bridge, Waterford this Friday at 5pm.

The aim of the protest, co-founder of the group Leslie Hughes explains, is put pressure on the Government to put into action the recommendations of the Scally Report to ensure “this nightmare ends for not only the women of Ireland but their families too.”

“It’s been over a year now since Vicky Phelan exposed the catastrophic failures of the CervicalCheck screening programme.

“For far too long now there has been an air of ‘pass the buck’ amongst those who should be in the position to take accountability, reassure us and put plans in place that will see quality women’s healthcare.

Fellow Co-Founder Cathriona English said the latest revelation, where a woman was refused screening as she had previously gone private, was the final straw. They are convinced that the only option left to them is to publicly show their displeasure with the Government.

“When we heard the latest story about Claire Healy Cashin being refused because she had gone private for her smear test we knew we were doing the right thing. Women are being forced to go private for the test or they could be waiting so long for the CervicalCheck results that it’s too late.

“We have had enough of this and we are ready to make some noise.”

Anyone who wants to join in the protest this Friday is asked to wear red.