Vol. 498 No. 5
160 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the length of time between the taking of a cervical smear and furnishing to a patient the results in respect of each of the hospitals in which this testing is undertaken. [27984/98]
Cervical smear tests can be taken by different professionals, general practitioners or private nurses in GP surgeries, by doctors in family planning clinics, by gynaecologists in hospitals and in their own practices and by public health nurses in health board clinics.
Following the 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. At present arrangements are in place so that smears which are deemed a priority can be dealt with urgently. The waiting times for the results of routine analysis from these laboratories are set out in the following table.
Table 1
Waiting Time for Laboratory Results of Cervical Smear Tests
|
Laboratory |
Waiting Period for results at 14/12/98 |
|
Coombe Womens' Hospital |
3/4 weeks |
|
National Maternity Hospital |
2/3 weeks |
|
Rotunda Hospital |
3/4 weeks |
|
St. Anne's and St. Luke's |
8 weeks |
|
Beaumont Hospital |
3 weeks |
|
St. James's Hospital |
2/3 weeks |
|
St. Vincent's Hospital |
3/4 days |
|
St. Joseph's Raheny |
2/3 weeks |
|
Mount Carmel |
1 week |
|
Blackrock Clinic |
3/4 weeks |
|
College of Surgeons |
9 weeks |
|
Sligo General Hospital |
4 weeks |
|
Cork University Hospital |
9 weeks |
|
Bons Secours Hospital, Cork |
1 week-10 days |
|
Mercy Hospital |
1 week |
|
Portiuncula Hospital |
1.5 weeks |
|
University College Hospital Galway |
1 week |
|
Our Lady of Lourdes |
3 weeks |
