Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2004
66 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children when the cervical smear testing programme will be available nationwide; the steps being taken to reduce delays in the provision of results; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15591/04]
View answerA pilot cervical screening programme commenced in October 2000, with the programme covering the Mid-Western Health Board region. Under the pilot programme, cervical screening is offered, free of charge, to approximately 74,000 women in the 25 to 60 year age group, at five year intervals.
The Health Board Executive, HeBE, has commissioned an examination of the feasibility and implications of a national roll out of a cervical screening programme. A key element of this work is an evaluation of the current pilot programme. It is expected that the evaluation will be completed this year. The HeBE has advised my Department that, when the evaluation report is completed, it will be in a position to prepare a draft plan for the national roll out of a programme, for consideration by my Department.
The number of smear tests carried out nationally has increased by almost 20% in recent years. To meet this increased demand, additional cumulative funding of €11 million has been provided by my Department since 2002 to enhance the laboratory and colposcopy services. This funding has enabled the laboratories to employ additional personnel, purchase new equipment and introduce new technology, thereby increasing the volume of activity. In addition, a number of hospitals have undertaken initiatives, such as contracting out of smear test analysis to external laboratories. These initiatives have resulted in a reduction in waiting times with, for example, the waiting time for routine results at Cork University Hospital being reduced from 129 days at March 2003 to less than 40 days currently.
