The clinical advice from the HSE and the Department of Health is that there is no evidence that the clinical and technical aspects of CervicalCheck have performed outside or below international standards or the quality guidelines set for the programme.
On 8 May, I established a Scoping Inquiry which is being undertaken by Dr Gabriel Scally in order to ascertain as quickly as possible the full facts of the situation and to examine all aspects of the CervicalCheck programme.
I have also appointed an Independent Clinical Expert Review Panel led by The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. All women who have had a previous smear(s) prior to their diagnosis of cervical cancer since September 2008 will be included in the expert review process. This will review their screening, cytological and clinical histories and undertake a re-examination of their cytology tests.
I confirm that any woman who has previously had a CervicalCheck smear test, and who following consultation with her GP determines that she wishes to have a further test, may do so without charge.
