Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2004
72 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children if the incidence of cervical cancer here is worsening and, for the first time, is now higher than in Britain; 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. [18374/04]
View answerStatistics on the incidence of new cancer cases are collated by the national cancer registry. The most up-to-date data for the number of new cases of invasive cervical cancer are for the years 1994 to 2000 and are shown in the following table.
|
Year |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
174 |
155 |
215 |
173 |
188 |
156 |
193 |
The data show no statistically significant increase in the numbers of invasive cervical cancer.
I have set out in the following table the age-standardised rates per 100,000 women of newly diagnosed invasive cervical cancer in Ireland and England. The Deputy will note that the rates are different in comparison to similar rates in this country.
|
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
1998-2000 Average |
|
|
Ireland |
10.7 |
9.2 |
12.2 |
9.9 |
10.5 |
8.8 |
10.5 |
9.9 |
|
England |
11.00 |
10.04 |
10.00 |
9.7 |
9.2 |
9.4 |
8.6 |
9.00 |
A pilot cervical screening programme commenced in October 2000 with the programme covering the Mid-Western Health Board region. Under the programme, cervical screening is being offered, free of charge, to approximately 74,000 women in the 25 to 60 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. This is a major undertaking with significant logistical and resource implications. The examination includes an evaluation of the pilot programme, policy development and the establishment of national governance arrangements. The evaluation of the pilot programme is a key element in informing the development of a high quality cervical screening model for Ireland. HeBE has advised 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. In order 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, to purchase new equipment and to 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.
