Claims that some of the nine women whose breast cancer was misdiagnosed at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise have developed MRSA while belatedly undergoing treatment for their cancer, were dismissed as unfounded by the Health Service Executive yesterday.
It said none of the nine women has MRSA. However, it is understood that one woman recalled for a breast biopsy on foot of a review of 3,000 mammograms at the Portlaoise hospital late last year does have MRSA.
The woman, following the biopsy at a Dublin hospital, was given the all-clear for breast cancer. But it is understood her biopsy wound subsequently became infected with MRSA. One source claimed the woman may have had MRSA on her skin when she underwent the biopsy.
Fine Gael's health spokesman Dr James Reilly said the woman had been let down twice by the health service. "The least we can expect when we go into hospital is we will not end up with more problems than we went in with," he said.