The helpline established in the wake of concerns over diagnostic errors at the pathology laboratory at University College Hospital Galway (UCHG) has received almost 80 calls to date.
The helpline was set up by UCHG early last month after it was confirmed that pathology test errors at the hospital's lab had led to an 18-month delay in the breast cancer diagnosis of a Co Tipperary woman.
A HSE West spokeswoman said the helpline had received 76 calls from members of the public to date and the service would continue for as long as it was required.
"The reason for the calls vary. Some people just want to speak to a breast cancer nurse about their own situation and are looking for reassurance while others are asking for their tests results to be reviewed. If anybody does want their tests reviewed, we will do this and discuss the results with them," she explained.
The HSE West is also reviewing all test results carried out in the lab at UCHG over the same period during which the errors were made in the case of the Tipperary woman. It says it is committed to implementing any recommendations necessary to minimise the risk of recurrence of such a serious error.
Tissue samples taken from this woman at the private Barringtons' Hospital in Limerick were sent to the pathology lab at UCHG for analysis in September 2005 and June 2006 - two tests from the lab reported that she did not have breast cancer.
However, when her own doctor had the second test rechecked at a lab in Cork, the results revealed that she did have the disease. The woman's treatment was delayed by 18 months as a result of the misdiagnosis.
Anyone with concerns over their own tests is invited to contact the UCHG helpline at 1800 25 20 16 between 9am and 5pm.
Meanwhile, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is preparing to begin its inquiry into the review of pathology testing at UCHG.
"We have had discussions with the HSE and UCHG management and we are finalising the investigation team and terms of reference for the inquiry at the moment. We expect the inquiry to start in the coming weeks," said a spokeswoman for HIQA.
The HIQA has already set up an inquiry into the case of Rebecca O'Malley, whose tests were incorrectly analysed at Cork University Hospital earlier this year.
Last week, the Department of Health ordered Barringtons' Hospital in Limerick to suspend its treatment of breast cancer patients as a result of concerns about the care of up to 10 women there, including the 51-year-old Tipperary woman.
The HIQA alerted the Department of Health to concerns over the treatment given to nine other women at the hospital over the past four years. The hospital has agreed to suspend its breast services while an independent investigation is carried out into the clinical care of patients who attended the breast disease service there between September 2003 and August 2007.
