Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 July 2018
485. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if women who are concerned in regard to the possibility that a cervical smear test may have returned a false negative, and who wish to see a consultant in order to have their test results reviewed and to clarify the state of their health and choose to do so privately in order to speed up the process, cannot then return to the public system for treatment (details supplied). [32246/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe cervical screening programme has reduced the risk of women developing cervical cancer and there was a significant downward trend in in the incidence of invasive cervical cancer between 2010 and 2015. Also, cervical cancers are being diagnosed at an earlier stage and five-year survival rates have improved. The clinical advice from the HSE and the Department of Health is clear 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. All laboratories currently contracted by CervicalCheck meet the programme’s standards and have ISO accreditation, certified by the relevant national authorities.
However, I am conscious of the need to provide reassurance to women who may have concerns about the results of a smear test they had through the national screening service. Therefore, a 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.
The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the country are, subject to certain charges, eligible for public in-patient hospital services. As provided for by the Health (Amendment) Act 2013, the current public hospital statutory in-patient charge for public in-patient and day-case services is €80 per day, subject to a maximum of €800 in any period of twelve consecutive months.
Section 55 of the Health Act 1970 (as amended) also provides that the HSE may make available private in-patient services to persons who are not entitled to, or who do not have or have waived their eligibility to public in-patient services. In these circumstances the statutory hospital charges under Section 55 that apply depends on the category of hospital, duration of stay and whether the accommodation was provided in a single or multi-occupancy room. It is noted that patients opting to be treated privately must also pay the consultant fees associated with their treatment. Patients may wish to pay all costs as self-payers or via their private Health insurance.
Should a patient decide to avail of private treatment they will remain as a private patient for the duration of that episode of care.
