Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has accepted a review that recommends against a statutory public inquiry into cervical screening failures at the Southern Health and Social Care Trust. The review by Professor Sir Frank Atherton, former chief medical officer in Wales, examined prior reports on services from 2008 to 2021.

Nesbitt commissioned Atherton last year to assess the reports. Atherton found management and governance failures in the trust and the Public Health Agency. He noted false negatives occur in all screening programmes but under-performance by screeners in the trust should have been identified and corrected.

A trust review identified eight women who developed cancer after misread smears. Screeners found to have under-performed were removed from the programme, reassigned or left NHS service. Atherton said further sanctions on individuals would be inappropriate.

Concerns raised in a Royal College of Pathologists report led to rechecks of results for 17,500 women screened in the trust area from 2008 to 2021. Affected women sought a public inquiry. Officials stated it would take time, risk retraumatisation, delay resolutions, cost significantly and add little clarity.

Improvements include primary HPV testing instead of cytology and centralised laboratory services in Belfast for better oversight. Dr Stephen Austin, Southern Trust medical director, accepted failings in management, governance and quality assurance. He apologised to affected women and families for distress caused.

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