LATEST: Report on implementation of CervicalCheck inquiry findings to be published today

A new report on the implementation of recommendations from the 2018 CervicalCheck inquiry will be published today.

The announcement follows just over one week since the passing of CervicalCheck campaigner Vicky Phelan at the age of 48.

Dr Gabriel Scally's new report, which follows his 2018 report, will outline what recommendations remain to be implemented in full.

The report is also expected to give an update on the smear testing being done in the US for CervicalCheck.

Dr Scally is also expected to address the concerns of 221+, a group made up of women affected by the scandal.

One of the recommendations listed by Dr Scally included a call for a statutory duty of candour on healthcare professionals and the organisations they work for.

Dr Scally also said that a decision not to disclose should only be available in 'very limited and well-defined and explicit circumstances', like capacity.

In addition, he recommended that every proposal not to disclose must be subject to external scrutiny by a minimum of two independent advocates.

According to the new report, at the end of last year, 164 of the 170 actions had been completed.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly also said that the Government will bring forward mandatory open disclosure as part of the Patient Safety (Notifiable Patient Safety Incidents) Bill 2019. 

He added that the new bill will contain new provisions which will ensure patients and their families are told the truth when serious mistakes are made.