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About the 221+ Patient Support Group

The 221+ Patient Support Group was established in July 2018 to provide information, advice, and support to the women and families directly affected by failures in the CervicalCheck Screening Programme that came to light following Vicky Phelan’s court case in April 2018.

The group is governed by a steering committee, which includes representation from the Irish Cancer Society, the Marie Keating Foundation, the Irish Patients Association, and several 221+ members.

We are a completely independent organisation and are not operated by the HSE or Department of Health.

FAQs

  • To join the group, you’ll need to submit the Enrolment Consent Form provided to you by your Liaison Officer.  Once you are enrolled in the group, you can gain access to the portal by clicking on ‘Registration Request’ on the 221+ website homepage and filling out a brief a form. Once your eligibility is verified, you’ll receive an email with a link to complete your registration.

  • Unfortunately, we are currently only set-up to the support the individuals identified by the HSE as being directly affected by the CervicalCheck failures.

    Additional information and support for women with cervical cancer can be found through the Irish Cancer Society and the Marie Keating Foundation.

  • If you believe you’re the victim of medical negligence, you can begin by reporting a complaint to the Irish Medical Council.

    Unfortunately, the 221+ Patient Support Group does not provide legal advice or guidance to members of the group or the public. You will need to contact a local solicitor to discuss your unique circumstances or case.

  • CervicalCheck has temporarily stopped audits of smear tests for cases of cervical cancer reported to them after May 5, 2018 until the independent Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) review is completed and a new system for audits is in place.

    To find out when your case will be reviewed, please contact:

    CervicalCheck at info@cervicalcheck.ie

    or by calling Freephone 1 800 45 45 55 (+353 21 4217612 from outside Ireland).

  • Please contact your GP or treating clinician with any questions regarding your medical history.

  • Yes! Smear tests are proven to save lives and we encourage all women to continue screening according to the recommendations provided by your GP or consultant.

  • 221+ does not accept donations. We would suggest donating to the Marie Keating Foundation or the Irish Cancer Society, who do incredible work supporting people with cancer, or any other trusted cancer charity of your preference.

    You can help spread our message by encouraging your friends and family to get the HPV vaccine if available to them via the HSE Laura Brennan HPV vaccine catch up scheme or buy purchasing it through your GP/Boots, attend cervical screening when invited and most of all to be active participants in their own healthcare – never be afraid to ask questions, for explanations or for records about your own body and health.

    Make sure your details are up to date on the CervicalCheck register if resident in Ireland, or the equivalent abroad.

Need more information?

If your question was not answered here, please contact us at info@221plus.ie for further information.