Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2019
1054. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the knock-on effects for the CervicalCheck system further to the announcement that the main Irish laboratory (details supplied) used by CervicalCheck is to cease accepting new smears from general practitioners as part of arrangements to clear its backlog of tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19956/19]
View answerIn April 2018, following issues which had emerged in relation to the CervicalCheck screening programme, I made the decision to offer free out of cycle smears to any woman who was concerned about her health, where her GP felt she should have a further test as part of her reassurance.
Approximately 112,000 consultations were provided by GPs, and 57,810 early repeat smear tests were provided between the 1st of May and the 31st of December – in other words, about half of the consultations resulted in a smear test.
Laboratory turnaround times have increased since that time as a consequence both of the 57,000 or so out of cycle smears and the increased uptake generally. The CervicalCheck programme has agreed with laboratories to prioritise those slides which originate from women who attended colposcopy, as this cohort of women are considered to have the most serious need. In addition, agreement has been reached with the laboratory with the largest backlog to process tests based on a HPV initial testing model; i.e. HPV testing will be carried out on samples prior to cytology. I am advised that this approach was chosen as the most effective way to process all outstanding tests based on prioritising women most at risk.
However, the HSE has advised that the natural history of cervical cancer would indicate that the disease would normally develop over a period of 10 to 15 years. It has said that in this context, a delay in the return of cervical screening results, whilst undesirable, is not necessarily dangerous and poses a very low risk to women.
Nevertheless, the reduction of turnaround times is a priority. With the programme now back to normal call-recall procedures, lab turnaround times are improving and more than half of tests are being returned in 9 weeks. However, they can be as long as 33 weeks and this remains a significant challenge. The HSE is continuing to work actively to reduce these turnaround times. In order to do so, it has been undertaking a global search for additional laboratory capacity to support the programme. Additional capacity has now been identified and the HSE is currently working to agree commercial arrangements, and complete quality assurance processes, to enable it to incorporate this capacity into the CervicalCheck programme. Ensuring the programme is fully supported, in the interests of public health, remains my priority.
