Debate contribution: Cervical Screening Programme: Atherton Report

Debate contribution by Mr Mike Nesbitt on 18 May 2026.

MLA: Mr Mike Nesbitt
Party at the time: Ulster Unionist Party
Date: 18 May 2026
Type: Debate contribution (made as a minister)
Business: Question for Urgent Oral Answer
Heading: Cervical Screening Programme: Atherton Report
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5548671

Text

First of all, I am extremely sorry for the loss of Lynsey Courtney. Secondly, I had no oversight of who came to the meeting. That was largely, I believe, driven by the Ladies with Letters. It was brought to my attention before the meeting that the group was bringing a legal representative, and I was asked by officials whether I was content for that to go ahead or whether I objected to it. I said, "I am happy for that to go ahead". For anybody who thinks that I am trying to be involved in a cover-up, why would I allow the Ladies with Letters and the families involved in the serious adverse incidents who attended the meeting to bring a legal representative with them? The legal representative made clear that some of the individuals or families are already seeking redress, and, when I asked whether redress meant legal redress, he confirmed that that was the case. In some public commentary since then, it has been very clear that some of those involved are exercising their absolute right to consider legal redress down the line. I accept that. I return to the fact that Sir Frank has looked at all the evidence, and, because of inconsistencies in data management, not least with the very first report from the Royal College of Pathologists, he sees very little chance of unravelling the issue any further. That is a tragedy in its own right, added to the tragedy of the loss of a daughter.
The Southern Trust deviated from the norm, which is that there is a full review by one screener and then a rapid review by a second. The Southern Trust believed, in good faith, that it would be better to have two full screenings, which is what it did. However, that meant that sensitivity tests were not possible because you could not compare like with like; you were comparing apples with pears. The question of whether those two women would still be alive is, I think, an open one, actually.

340 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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