Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 5

Written Answers. - Cancer Screening Programme.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

106 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the turn around time for cervical smear testing at the Royal College of Surgeons is three months and not three to four weeks as stated in his reply to a parliamentary question. [9570/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

The information supplied on foot of Parliamentary Question No. 158 of 9 May 2001 related to the turnaround time for processing smears in the Royal College of Surgeons at that time. I am advised by the Eastern Regional Health Authority that the average time, from arrival of a smear in the RCSI laboratory to the issuing of a report, is now 13 weeks. The ERHA further advises that urgent requests are at all times given priority treatment and that the average turnaround time from the arrival of an urgent smear in the laboratory to the issuing of a report is generally less than two weeks.

If a smear test requires the expert opinion of pathologists, the processing of that smear may take longer, to ensure that the patient gets the benefit of opinion of a number of pathologists. The authority has stated that the RCSI laboratory receives an average of 40 to 50 smears marked urgent per week. Unfortunately the prioritising of so many smears can delay the screening of routine smears.

The ERHA has advised that the waiting time for the reporting of smears can vary throughout the year, as it is dependent on factors such as the number of specimens received in the laboratory, and the availability of trained and experienced staff to offset the workload. In February 2002 there was a 40% increase in the workload of the RCSI by comparison with February 2001. As the RCSI is the major service provider in Ireland using liquid based cervical cytology, enormous interest in its services has been generated from GPs who have been unable to utilise this new technology from other large cytology screening laboratories. In addition, the RCSI runs a training programme in an effort to increase the supply of trained cervical cytology technicians. The ERHA has further advised that it is continuing to try to recruit new staff, but due to a large number of vacancies at present in cervical cytology laboratories throughout Ireland, this remains a difficult task.

The Deputy will be aware that 63% of all smears nationally are analysed within the eastern region and that this level of demand puts increased pressure on turnaround times and staffing. Additional funding has been provided by my Department in 2001 and 2002 to the ERHA to fund the introduction of liquid based technology in the processing of cervical cytology smears in the various laboratories within its functional area, the purchase of additional equipment and to employ extra staff. It is intended that the additional staff and improved technology will result in an increased capacity for processing smears for the region in the medium to long-term.