A Clare survivor of symphysiotomy has hit out at the planned destruction of records submitted to a payment scheme for those who underwent the controversial procedure.
Ballyvaughan woman Ellen Moore underwent a symphysiotomy at a hospital in the Midlands in 1965 – the procedure involved splitting a woman's pelvis or pubic bone in two as a replacement for cesarean sections.
A redress scheme set up to compensate women who'd been through the painful procedure has paid out million euro to date, but from today medical records submitted to it will be destroyed.
The Department of Health says these are only copy medical records, and that it must destroy them under data protection rules.
Ellen thinks that despite a redress scheme, the government and HSE have not done enough to help the women affected.
