Mike Nesbitt has supported a review conclusion against holding a statutory public inquiry into cervical screening failures at the Southern Health Trust. The review came from Professor Sir Frank Atherton, former chief medical officer in Wales.

Nesbitt commissioned the review last year to examine prior reports on the screening issues. Atherton identified management and governance failures in the trust and the Public Health Agency. He stated false negatives form an inherent risk in screening programmes but stressed under-performance by screeners should have been detected and addressed.

A trust review found eight women developed cancer after misread smears. Screeners deemed to have under-performed have been removed from the programme, reassigned or left NHS service. Atherton deemed further sanctions on individuals inappropriate in this context.

Around 17,500 women screened in the trust area from 2008 to 2021 needed result rechecks after a Royal College of Pathologists report raised concerns. Affected women called for a public inquiry, while officials noted it would consume time, risk retraumatisation, delay resolutions, cost much and add little clarity.

Improvements now include switching to primary HPV tests from cytology and centralising lab services in Belfast for better oversight. Dr Stephen Austin, Southern Trust medical director, accepted the failings in management, governance and quality assurance. He apologised to affected women and families for distress caused.

Campaign group Ladies with Letters criticised the decision and plans to push for an inquiry. Nesbitt recognised the difficult impact on women and families affected by cervical cancer.