Vol. 470 No. 4
90 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the delay in processing cervical smear test at St. Luke's Hospital; if his attention has further been drawn to the anguish which these delays are causing patients; the steps, if any, he intends to take to deal with the current backlog and to ensure that all future tests will be processed speedily; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19045/96]
Limerick East): I am aware that there is a delay in the reporting of cervical smear tests in St. Luke's Hospital. A backlog of smears has built up since January 1995, when the cervical smear laboratory charge was removed. At present an opportunistic, as opposed to an organised, cervical screening service is available to all women through their general practitioners, family planning clinics, maternity hospitals and special clinics in health boards. This has resulted in a demand led service and, in the case of St. Luke's Hospital, has resulted in an increase in smears being analysed. This has brought the overall volume of smears for analysis well over the limit which is manageable under present staffing and resource levels. The capacity of the laboratory is approximately 30,000 and this year it is expected that the number of smears to be analysed will be in the region of 40,000.
The backlog in St. Luke's Hospital is approximately 12 weeks for routine screening. However, the hospital management has stressed that urgent or special cases are dealt with immediately. The hospital has reached agreement with staff to carry out additional work in order to reduce the backlog by at least 50 per cent by the end of the year. The hospital is also looking at other options in the short term to totally eliminate the backlog. It also intends to provide additional space and facilities, so that it will be in a position to cope with additional smear test workloads in the future.
