The Chief Executive of the HSE, Professor Brendan Drumm, has described the misdiagnosis of seven women who went for breast cancer scans as appalling.
The women who had scans at Portlaoise hospital were told they were cancer free, but they were later informed that there had been an error.
On RTÉ’s This Week programme, Prof Drumm said the system in Portlaoise was one that the HSE inherited and had tried to change, but this change had been obstructed by the public and many others interests, including practitioners.
He aknowledged that some of Ireland’s cancer systems did not provide quality care and that the system in Portlaoise was totally unfair to the women who use it and to the doctors that work there.
Mr Drumm insisted the HSE was in the midst of a major transformation programme, where cancer services have been withdrawn at many hospitals, and where such services will be centralised at eight sites.
He said the transformation programme was ongoing and was succeeding.
Prof Drumm said the HSE was bringing about many changes, including reform of the hospital system in the north east of the country; the ending of overcrowding in the A & E departments; the provision of a children's hospital; and pharmacy contracts.
He said the public was at a crossroads and had to support the changes.
