Vol. 554 No. 5
976 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the situation where women who have smear tests can wait anything between four and five months to have the results of that test made known to them while at the same time, if they go privately, they can have the test and the result within ten days. [15774/02]
I am concerned by the long delays experienced by some women waiting for a routine smear test result. I am advised that current waiting times for such results vary depending on the laboratory and can range from periods of three weeks up to those referred to by the Deputy. However, where cervical smears are urgent, results are available within a fortnight in the majority of cases; in a minority of instances, the waiting time can extend to four weeks.
My Department is committed to facilitating a reduction in waiting times for routine smear test results. To this end, additional funding has been provided over the last few years for the development of cervical cytology laboratories in terms of additional staffing, equipment and the introduction of new technology. Furthermore, my Department has recently approved the piloting of a proposed contingency plan to assist in overcoming capacity problems in the cervical cytology laboratories. This plan involves the contracting out of the analysis of cervical smears to a laboratory abroad subject to compliance with the requirements set out in the December 1999 document, Quality Assurance Guidelines for the Irish National Cervical Screening Programme.
Under the national health strategy, a commitment has been given to the full extension of the programme to the rest of the country. The experience gained from phase one of the national programme in the Mid-Western Health Board area should be of assistance in the context of implementing this commitment. The process of planning and organising the national programme is, of course, a major undertaking with significant logistical and resource implications that requires careful consideration. Accordingly, following discussions with my Department on the matter, the chief executive officers of the health boards initiated an examination of the feasibility and implications of a roll out of the national programme. I understand the chief executive officers will report on the outcome of the examination soon.
