National Cervical Screening Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019

Tuesday, 15 January 2019

Ceisteanna (562, 704, 813)

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

562. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the timescale for the results of repeat cervical smears; and the reason for delays in relation to the matter. [54153/18]

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

704. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the backlog of cervical cancer screening smears awaiting examination; the wait time; the steps he is taking to clear the backlog in view of the anxiety the waiting time is causing for many women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1093/19]

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

813. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the waiting time for women for cervical screening results; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that women are waiting in excess of three to four months to receive their results in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1748/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 562, 704 and 813 together.

In May 2018, I asked CervicalCheck to make the necessary arrangements to provide that any woman who had had a CervicalCheck smear test, and whose GP considered that they should have a further test, to access such a further test without charge. This decision was made in good faith to address the considerable fears of the many anxious women in Ireland as a result of significant media coverage of the issues that emerged in late April.

In the months since then, there has been a significant increase in the volume of women presenting for smear tests. This includes women who have availed of the out of cycle tests, but also a greater number of women presenting for scheduled screening.

This increased level of engagement with the programme is very welcome. However, the increased demand has undoubtedly put immense pressure on lab capacity and the HSE has advised that, currently, results of smear tests may take up to 20 weeks from the time of the test, and that it may take longer in a small number of cases.

The HSE has been working actively with the labs to manage this issue and to improve turnaround times for smear tests. The HSE reports that laboratories have agreed to undertake additional recruitment, provide for overtime and manage annual leave in an effort to minimise the backlog. In addition, the HSE is aiming to source additional screening capacity, which would improve the turnaround time of results. However, sourcing capacity and resources is a global challenge as countries start to move to primary HPV screening, which vastly reduces the requirement for cytology screening staff.

The HSE is currently developing a capacity plan to take account of available capacity and expected demand, with the aim of bringing the programme into stabilisation this year. The issue remains a priority concern for me, for my Department and for the HSE.

While the provision of out of cycle smears ceased on the 31 December 2018, it is important to be clear that this backlog will take some time to resolve. It remains a priority concern for me, for my Department and for the HSE.