Fórsa officials will meet senior HSE human resource staff today (Wednesday) to discuss staff matters that may arise from the Scally review into Cervical Check. The meeting, which was organised by the HSE, came as Fórsa head of health Éamonn Donnolly advised staff not to attend meetings related to inquiries or investigations until national protocols for the process were agreed.

Last month the union gave its full support to plans for a full and thorough inquiry into the cervical cancer screening programme, but called on the Government to ensure that due process was followed when seeking accountability for errors in the service and communications with the women affected.

Éamonn said it was essential that the health service and its staff be held accountable for mistakes, and the consequences for women that followed. “The Government and its health authorities must find the quickest thorough and accurate means of uncovering exactly what went wrong and, more importantly, supporting the women affected.

“Health service workers have been toiling against a background of serious staff shortages and growing demand over the past few years, so it’s also important that due process is followed in the investigation and any disciplinary processes that may follow,” he said.

A meeting of Fórsa members working in Cervical Check in Limerick took place yesterday (Tuesday).