Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 1

Written Answers - Cancer Screening Services.

John Bruton

Question:

205 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the waiting time for cancer smear tests for each community care area in the North-Eastern Health Board area; the length of time for results to be given to patients; his allocation to the North-Eastern Health Board in 1999 towards improvements in the smear test service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3192/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

There is no waiting period for the taking of cervical smears in general practitioners' surgeries. In relation to services provided directly by the health board, the situation for each community care area in the North-Eastern Board is as follows:

Area	Service	Waiting Time
Meath	Smears taken by community care services	4 weeks
Louth	No community care service available at present	N/A
Cavan/Monaghan	Smears taken in the general hospitals	No waiting period

Cervical smear tests are sent to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin where the interval for the reporting of results is four and six weeks respectively. The funding of the cervical screening service in the North-Eastern Health Board is a matter in the first instance for the health board to determine from its 1999 allocation.