A Quin-based terminally ill cancer patient has paid tribute to the late CervicalCheck campaigner, Vicky Phelan for leaving a legacy that will save lives in future generations.
Ms Phelan, (48), who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2014, died early on Monday morning in Milford Hospice, Co Limerick surrounded by her family.
The Kilkenny woman, who had moved to live in Limerick, exposed the controversy around the national screening programme CervicalCheck, where she and other women were not informed that cervical cancer smear test results showing them to be in the clear were actually inaccurate.
Speaking from Milford Hospice on Monday, John Wall said while family and friends knew Vicky would die at some stage, they could never be prepared for losing someone who has left such an indelible mark on peoples’ lives.
In the first instance, he said Vicky would be remembered as a great mother, wife, sister, who had left a grieving husband, Jim, and her children, Amelia and Darragh.
He said the mother-of-two has left a legacy in terms of improving cervical screening and providing much needed support for victims of the cervical screening scandal.
“This legacy will continue for many generations into the future. She has changed the way we look at our health system. She changed how the health system interacts with its patients. Her mark is indelible and an everlasting positive one.
“Vicky gave up a few years of her life to help others when she could have been doing a lot of other things. She gave up most of her life to ensure that her experience counted for something.
“All she wanted to do was to ensure that mistakes that were made in the past were rectified and wouldn’t happen in the future.
“She took on a system as one person. The system eventually listened and learned. Thanks to her work many lives will not be lost.
“The way she dealt with her terminal illness inspired me and thousands of others. She lived quite successfully with it, in fact, she lived her life right up to the very last.
“I met her last week, we chatted nearly every day in some shape or form. Her death leaves a massive void in so many peoples’ lives, particularly her own family,” he said.
Political leaders have expressed glowing tributes for the campaigning work she has undertaken in recent years.
An Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he is very saddened at the passing of Vicky Phelan, a woman of great courage, integrity, honesty and generosity of spirit.
“She will be long remembered as someone who stood up for the women of Ireland, and globally,” he said.
Motor Neurone patient and former journalist, Charlie Bird said his heart is broken after hearing about Vicky’s death.
“Over the past year she gave me great support to keep fighting my terminal illness.
This whole country should be in mourning at the passing of this remarkable human being. My heart is broken. My hero is gone,” he tweeted.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly expressed his deepest condolences and sympathies to Vicky’s family on their loss.
“Vicky leaves a legacy of enormous and enduring impact which has touched the lives of many people, and in particular women and families affected by cervical cancer.
“My thoughts are with Vicky’s family and many friends on this sad day,” he stated.
After the settlement of her own case, Ms Phelan said: “The women of Ireland can no longer put their trust in the CervicalCheck programme – mistakes can and do happen but the conduct of CervicalCheck and the HSE in my case, and the case of at least 10 other women we know about, is unforgivable.”
She had undergone a smear test in 2011 showing no abnormalities but was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2014. A subsequent CervicalCheck audit showed her original smear test result was wrong. She refused to sign a confidentiality clause in the settlement of her case, which allowed her to speak publicly about what had happened.
Ms Phelan’s campaigning led to the establishment of an independent investigation, led by public health expert Dr Gabriel Scally who reported on the controversy in 2018.
In the wake of the controversy, Ms Phelan later founded the 221+ CervicalCheck Patient Support Group that supports victims of the CervicalCheck screening scandal.
The group said it had lost its “biggest big sister”. “We are shattered. She told us this day would come but she fought so hard and so well that we couldn’t let ourselves think it would happen,” it said.
Dan Danaher
East Clare correspondent, Dan Danaher is a journalism graduate of Rathmines and UL. He has won numerous awards for special investigations on health, justice, environment, and reports on news, agriculture, disability, mental health and community.