DR GRÁINNE FLANNELLY of Cervical Check has stood down from her role of clinical director amid claims that 206 Irish women have received a delayed cervical cancer diagnosis.
Hundreds of Irish women have shared their stories of receiving incorrect test results following smear tests under the HSE programme.
One Irish woman, Vicky Phelan, launched a court case against Cervical Check following a smear test she took in 2011, the results of which she was informed were all clear.
The 43-year-old mother was not informed that she actually had cervical cancer until September 2017 and was told it was terminal.
According to Irish Times, Miss Phelan settled her lawsuit for €2.5 million against a US laboratory over the 2011 smear test, which informed her she did not have cervical cancer.
Since Miss Phelan's case, more than 200 other women have reported similar stories of being misinformed of their smear test results, receiving the incorrect diagnosis.
In a statement, Dr Flannelly apologised for the misinformation given to women regarding their cervical cancer status.
She said she was "sorry that recent events caused distress and worry" to women who undertook smear tests during her time of directorship of the programme.
"I have decided to step aside to allow the programme to continue it’s important work" she said.
