221+ Vicky Phelan’s court case is held
HSE supports package created for CervicalCheck victims
Timeline
Important events in the history of 221+
2018
April
June
CervicalCheck Steering
Committee set up
Two 221+ patient reps appointed
as per Scally recommendation
July
221+ Patient Group is established
Full time Coordinator hired
September
Dr Gabriel Scally’s 70-page report into the CervicalCheck programme is published
221+ representatives monitor
implementation of recommendations
on an ongoing basis
October
221+ website portal launched
To provide relevant information and resources to the group’s members in a secure and confidential manner
2019
January
Minister for Health meets with 221+ members
February
The final ‘221+ Validation Report’
Relating to those women impacted by the CervicalCheck debacle is published
March
Ex gratia Scheme for 221+ members affected by non-disclosure of audit
results launched
Second member meeting held in Dublin
May
221+ begins collaboration with
UCD School of Psychology
Research into the psychological impact of CervicalCheck failures on 221+ women
Second member meeting
held in Dublin
June/July
Scally Supplementary
Report is published
221+ members meet with Dr Garbriel Scally
221+ give research grant to UCD School of Psychology to explore the psychological impact of a missed cancer diagnosis on the partners of women impacted by the CervicalCheck screening failure in Ireland
August
MacCraith Rapid Review is released
MacCraith Rapid Review which built upon the Scally Report highlighting the negative knock-on impact of the system shortcomings and adding 9 recommendations to the already existing 58 from the original report is released
September
Taoiseach meets
with 221+ members
October
State apologises for
CervicalCheck debacle
221+ facilitates members attendance
at Dáil
November
4th member meeting
held in Dublin
1st New members welcome meeting
held in Dublin
December
Aggregate report on the work of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) is released
Membership of 221+ expands to 356
Additional part time staff member hired
221+ goes before the Oireachtas Health Committee
December
Patient Safety (Notifiable Patient Safety Incidents) Bill 2019 enters First Stage in the Dáil Eireann
2020
January
221+ published general election manifesto
2nd new members welcome meeting held in Dublin
February
7th member meeting
held in Dublin
221+ member national consultations undertaken as part of strategic review
March
221+ moves support meetings online
Running 18 virtual workshops/events in Spring/Summer 2020
August
My 221 Plus’ app launched
Alongside redesigned private members website
August/September
Minister commits to additional funding for 221+ Group
August/September
Establishment of a Compensation Tribunal
Tribunal established for those women and families affected by the CervicalCheck debacle
221+ continues to provide information on the CervicalCheck Tribunal
October
Tribunal Opens
The Tribunal opens for claims
2021
March
221+ hosts its 45th member support event/workshop
November
Launch of 221+ Collaborative Art Project
The Collaborative Art project is launched as a way for 221+ members to engage with and memorialise their experiences through creative means
November
First In Person Member Conference since the Pandemic began
Held in Cork
2022
March
Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 enters First Stage in the Dáil Eireann
May
First Member Conference of 2022
Members came together in Dublin. Later on in the year a conference was hosted in Sligo.
July
Applications to the Tribunal Close
No more claims can be made
November
Vicky Phelan Passes Away
We recieved the devastating news that co-founder of 221+ and trailblazing advocate Vicky Phelan passed away. Read more about Vicky’s legacy here.
November
Final Scally Report Published
The final Scally review is published. Find the full report here.
2023
February
New 221+ Website Launched
With a new look and enhanced features on the members only site
February
Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Bill 2023 Passes 5th Stage in the Dáil
The Bill finally progresses after years of hard work from Patient Representatives including Vicky Phelan, Lorraine Walsh, Stephen Teap, Lyn Fenton and Rosie Condra.
May
Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023 Signed into law by President Higgins
A win for patient advocacy and patient safety.
September
Oireachtas Briefing and 221+’s First Pre-Budget Submission
Our first Pre-Budget Submission called for expanded investment in Women’s Health and commitment to amplifying the patient voice in all spaces, valuing their time.
November 17
Cervical Cancer Elimination Day 2023
221+ continues its involvement in the elimination campaign, which aims to make cervical cancer rare in Ireland by 2040 and hit other WHO targets. More info here.