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CERVICAL CHECK SAMPLES are being sent for screening overseas, despite the government’s commitment to increasing screenings in Ireland following the Cervical Check controversy.
Dublin’s Coombe Hospital normally processes about 10% of cervical screening samples for CervicalCheck, while about 90% are sent to Quest Diagnostics in the US.
But a cyber-attack on The Coombe at the end of last year resulted in the hospital losing its IT connectivity with CervicalCheck, meaning it was unable to accept samples. The Service has been reconnected recently and is being tested.
“There was an awful lot of technical work to be done in the background to make sure that it was secure and reconnected,” said Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, speaking to RTE’s Bryan Dobson earlier today, adding that “the final technical testing stages are happening now, and it will be back in the coming weeks.”
In the meantime, all samples are being tested by Quest Diagnostics in the US.
According to a statement from a HSE spokesperson, “there is a severe unavailability of principal cytopathologists at the Coombe currently.”
It added that “the hospital has been working on putting in place contingency to cover this unavailability,” to allow it to keep processing samples, “despite general shortages of this expertise both in Ireland and internationally”.
New National Cervical Screening Laboratory
The Health Minister also said that a new National Cervical Screening Lab (NCSL) is being built in the Coombe, and its construction is well underway.
“That lab really is how we’re going to be able to scale up to make sure that more of those samples are done here,” he said.
The new laboratory will comprise of 1,340 sqm of accommodation over four floors providing cytology, HPV testing, training, audit, and research facilities. It’s due to be operational later this year, according to the HSE’s statement.
It said that the lack of availability of cytopathology staff, namely consultant cytopathologists, is “the top risk to immediate and long-term success of the NCSL”.
It added that “further posts have been identified and staff will be recruited as the Coombe increases its work on behalf of CervicalCheck.”
“The opening of the new NCSL … will build capacity and resilience into the public element of the laboratory services (and) … will enable the National Screening Service (NSS) to reduce its dependency on third-party providers to meet the needs of CervicalCheck,” said the statement.
You can go studs up into the chest to win the ball these days.. who knew ..
@Brian: I’m a Liverpool fan and it wasn’t a penalty
@Mick Joe: I’m pretty sure I’ve seen plenty of penalties given for less!
@Mick Joe: If that challenge is made anywhere else on the pitch its a free kick 10 times out of 10.. It was a penalty.
@Brian: Absolutely disgraceful from the ref and VAR. Anywhere else on the pitch,at any moment during the game,that’s a clear foul and a booking for a reckless challenge. Because it’s with seconds to go and in the penalty area,officials are afraid to be ‘controversial’ City goal allowed to stand despite McAllister being blocked,van Dijk goal ruled out in Carabao Cup Final. Inconsistency is shocking.
@Mick Joe: I’m a Liverpool fan and that’s a peno all day.
@James Rowan: two wrongs don’t make a right
@Mick Joe: I’m a Liverpool fan and it was a penalty
@Mick Joe: Would it have been a free kick and yellow card anywhere else on the pitch?
@Brian: Exactly,and any earlier in the game.
@Mick Joe: yes it was…that happens anywhere else on the pitch and it’s a foul…VAR bottled it.
@Brian: spot on
@Mick Joe: im a united fan and it pains me to say it, but i reckon it was a pen. High legs is still high legs even if doku tried to pull out.
@Brian: Liverpool fans always moaning. Change the record. If Diaz was any use he’d have the match ball and you wouldn’t be crying.
@marklars81: Didn’t hear any moaning last week when the ref messed up and Liverpool got a late winner against Forrest.
@marklars81: nobody is crying lad.. you seem more upset than me . Lol. It was an observation of an incident in the biggest match of the season so far.. that alright with ya ? Lol
@Denis Ryan: Forrest? Oh,it’s Mr Gump again,showing his intelligence
@Mick Joe:
Know your not…your a troll
@Sean Brannigan: I am a Liverpool fan. Brush up on your spelling and grammar.
Liverpool have been denied stonewall penalties in games v City and Arsenal. Not to mention the perfect goal chalked off in the Spurs game. How many more can be dismissed?
Hate watching these games as a man u fan. Entertaining box to box. Attacking football at its best. Great game. Title race blown wide open. Liverpool unlucky had city on the ropes. Arsenal City on 31st has a even bigger feel now.
City luckly with draw as midfield overrun in the second half. Silva and KDB poor today due to Liverpool midfield play. Ake what a mistake. City really needed a win today so the title is probably gone, but still a surprise might happen.
@did you every wonder: city are still well in this race,whatever the result between city and arsenal just throws another twist,as a pool fan I’m enjoying it,but I have me fingers chewed up to the knuckle.
Liverpool have great chance of league. City Arsenal game will hopefully be a draw also. City are under pressure for something in that now. City’s next few games are tough but their final five games are all guaranteed wins for them on paper unlike Liverpool and Arsenal who have some tricky away games in theirs. Arsenal still have united wolves Brighton Tottenham all away also. More twists to come
We were robbed!
3 teams still in it and still some detractors are saying ‘dull stuff’ in contrast to say Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1…you know, Bayern (not this year) Real/Barca/PSG.I want Liverpool to win, if not them Arsenal, and you know what that’ll be the 6th different team in 10/11 years that has won the PL..say to Bayern/PSG et al.
have your say