The study to which I refer was undertaken by Dr. Áine Gallagher attached to the UCD Department of Public Health. Indeed, the study has not yet been published, although I am aware that it will be published. Dr. Gallagher gave details of the study in various medical publications and in the media last week.
What we read in the papers last week were very disturbing facts. Dr. Gallagher maintains there is evidence that the hit and miss approach to cervical screen testing throughout the country has resulted in many poorer, less advantaged women not being screened at all. Those are the women most at risk. The main claim she makes — and this is the most worrying point of all — is that almost half the women tested, whose tests proved positive between 1980 and 1985 — were not contacted to ascertain whether they were aware of the results of their tests nor were called for follow-up screening.
If that is the case — and I am asking the Minister to give me information on this — this is, indeed, serious because some of these women who would not have been notified, who would not have been given the option of treatment, could have developed cervical cancer whereas a reasonably simple surgical process could have been carried out to ensure that they did not contract that disease. This cancer is controllable. It is the one disease which, if caught early enough, can be cured. This is accepted beyond doubt and in countries such as Finland and Norway it has been stamped out altogether through good, well-structured and properly funded programmes. We are far from that stage here. Irish women are still the poor relations in preventative health care. There is, for instance, no cervical screening service in the health centres in Cavan, Monaghan or Cork and Kerry.
I know the Minister in his reply will lay great stress on the fact that St. Luke's cytology department now process results in 24 hours. That is a big improvement and it is to be acknowledged but it does not go far enough. There is a critical need for realistic reform. Action must be taken on the alleged 40 per cent of cases where women were not properly notified or given follow-up treatment. The Minister might say what he intends to do in this regard. There should be greater regional promotion of a screening service. Every health centre should advise women and carry out this service, making special efforts to reach the at risk over-45 age group. There must be a centralised register of positive tests and an efficient follow-up system should be initiated. The woman's name and last address should be noted.
Women deserve a properly-funded service. All women over the age of 35 should have three-yearly screening wherever they live. It should not be a disparate service which is patchy in rural areas and good in Dublin. They should be informed of the result, whether negative or positive, and get treatment if necessary. Lives can be saved with better organisation. We could have no deaths from cervical cancer here.
