asked the Minister for Health what provisions are made for cervical cancer tests; how many women availed of them in the last year; and if he will consider providing the money and staff for a nationally advertised free scheme for all women.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cervical Cancer Tests.
65.
Cytology tests for cervical cancer are at present operated in the National Maternity Hospital, Dublin; Rotunda Hospital, Dublin; the Regional General Hospitals at Galway and Limerick; Portiuncula Hospital and St. Bridget's Mental Hospital in Ballinasloe; Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital, Dublin.
The number of women who availed of this service during 1967 was approximately 12,000.
Efforts which were made to organise a national cytology service based on St. Kevin's Hospital in Dublin did not succeed because of failure to recruit an experienced cytologist. The arrangements for developing this service, and in particular the desirability of organising it on a regional basis, will be reviewed in my Department in the light of the recommendations contained in the Report of the Consultative Council on the General Hospital Services.
Will the Minister indicate if these tests are available free and if they are available generally to the public?
Yes.
The facts are that they are not available free and that they are not directly available to the public. Would the Minister investigate this, and would he not pay more attention to the suggestion I made here that perhaps the Department might finance the training of a cytologist for this purpose?
I have that under consideration.