Vol. 496 No. 7
186 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children the waiting time for initial tests in each of the health board areas for cervical smear testing; and the waiting time for the results of these tests in each of the health board areas. [24201/98]
Cervical smear tests can be taken by different professionals and in different locations — general practitioners or practice nurses in GP surgeries, by doctors at family planning clinics, by gynaecologists in hospitals and in their own practices and by public health nurses in health board clinics. Information on waiting times for appointments with individual practitioners is not available. In relation to those health boards which provide a smear test service in health board clinics, two health boards, the North-Eastern and the South-Eastern have indicated that there are waiting times for initial smear tests in some of their clinics. In the North-Eastern Health Board there are no delays where services are provided in the acute hospitals. However, in community care clinics there is a waiting period of six to eight weeks in Meath and 12 to 16 weeks in Louth.
In the South-Eastern Health Board, approximately 16,000 smear tests are carried out annually for women in the region. In excess of 15,000 of these tests are taken by general practitioners/gynaecologists. The remaining smears, approximately 800, are carried out in community care clinics in Waterford, Carlow-Kilkenny and South Tipperary. There is no waiting period in the South Tipperary clinics. However, in Waterford clinics where approximately 100 smears are taken annually, the waiting time is 8 to 10 months. In Carlow-Kilkenny approximately 300 smears are taken annually and the waiting period is 10 to 12 months. I am advised by the South-Eastern Health Board that because of the waiting period for tests in the Carlow-Kilkenny community care area a decision was made to refer all new patients to their general practitioner for smear tests until this waiting list has been eliminated. The board will, however, continue to provide a service for patients who do not wish to have the procedure carried out by their general practitioner.
Following the initial taking of a cervical smear test, the smear is sent to a laboratory for analysis. There are 18 laboratories throughout the country which provide this service and each health board is free to use whichever laboratory it chooses. At present arrangements are in place so that smears which are deemed to be urgent can be dealt with immediately. The waiting time for the results of routine analysis from these laboratories is set out in table 1.
|
Laboratories |
Waiting Period for results @ 29/10/98 |
|
Coombe Womens Hospital, Dublin |
4-6 weeks |
|
National Maternity Hospital, Dublin |
2 weeks |
|
Rotunda Hospital, Dublin |
3-4 weeks |
|
St. Annes and St. Lukes, Dublin |
8 weeks |
|
Beaumont Hospital, Dublin |
1 month |
|
St. James Hospital, Dublin |
2-3 weeks |
|
St. Vincents, Dublin |
8 weeks |
|
St. Josephs Raheny, Dublin |
2-3 weeks |
|
Mount Carmel, Dublin |
1 week |
|
Blackrock Clinic, Dublin |
2-4 weeks |
|
College of Surgeons, Dublin |
8.5 weeks |
|
Sligo General Hospital |
4.5 weeks |
|
Cork University Hospital |
10 weeks |
|
Bon Secours Hospital, Cork |
1 week — 10 days |
|
Mercy Hospital, Cork |
1 week |
|
Portiuncula Hospital, Galway |
8-10 days |
|
University College Hospital, Galway |
5 weeks |
|
Lady of Lourdes, Hospital, Drogheda |
2-3 weeks |
