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FIANNA FÁIL LEADER Micheál Martin has told the Dáil today that the delay in CervicalCheck smears is impacting the quality of test, and some have been rendered invalid.
Speaking during Leaders’ Questions, he highlighted recent articles published in TheJournal.ie which revealed the Health Minister Simon Harris was warned his announcement of free repeat smear tests was “dangerous” and put the CervicalCheck screening programme at risk.
During the height of the CervicalCheck controversy, Harris announced that women who wished to have an additional smear test would be able to do so for free at their local GP.
Warnings to the minister
Documents seen by this website, show that a gynaecologist located in the Mid-West region wrote a letter to the Department of Health last October which said that the Mid-West region alone has seen a “300% increase in referrals” for further examination.
“It is impossible to meet the current demand within recommended guidelines, making the system unsafe,” the letter says, which was sent to 20 other healthcare professionals and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
The CervicalCheck Project team also wrote to the minister in October asking him to end the offer of free smear rechecks, as it was putting pressure on the healthcare system and “intensifying concern” among women.
In a note signed by Harris on 21 October, it says that smear testing levels are at around 20% above the normal volume. By that month, over 83,000 additional consultations were held, with 42,000 out-of-cycle smears, or repeat smear tests, taken.
In June last year, the Sandyford lab that examines 50% of the CervicalCheck smear tests said that the offer of free repeat smear tests was putting the smear test programme “in jeopardy”.
The offer of a free repeat smear test ended six months later, on 31 December.
Martin raised these matters with the Taoiseach, asking him when the Harris informed him of the effects of the backlog.
He said the future of the CervicalCheck programme was in “jeopardy” due to the minister offering repeat smears to all women. Martin claimed the offer of repeat smear tests were shut down in December because tests were coming back invalid due to the delays.
Tests expiring
Leo Varadkar said that some tests have been delayed up to six months, and as a result they have expired. Those women will now have to be retested, he said.
The Taoiseach said some women have been informed and others are to be informed shortly.
Varadkar said the out-of-cycle smear tests were offered in May “in good faith” to reassure women who were concerned. He said there has been a significant increase in women attending, not just for the extra test, but regular tests also.
This led to significant increase in volume and ”immense pressure on lab capacity”.
The HSE has said labs are recruiting more, managing overtime and leave to address the backlog. The HSE is also seeking more labs so as to increase capacity.
Martin said Varadkar’s reply did not address his question – as to whether Harris had informed him that the backlog meant some smear tests would become invalid. He called for Harris to appear before the Dáil and make a statement, stating that it is a matter of public interest.
Varadkar said Harris informed him of a backlog a few weeks ago but he could not remember exactly when. He said he was sure the minister would be willing to make a Dáil statement.
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Some joke! Had my smear on 31st October. Surgery told me it will be mid April before l get results. That is 5 months plus of a turnaround. Women are going to fall down in the streets at this rate. After everything, this government does not care.
@Evelyn Gillen: women should get the HPV vaccine. Its approved to 45 yrs old
@Evelyn Gillen: I had mine at well women and it took only 7 weeks to get the results last September . They are rather good and take part in cervical check programme . Check where a clinic around you is .
@Isabel Oliveira: Thanks, l was told by my surgery if l take a private test it will cost €150 and will take the same amount of time as it’s the same lab testing. I am looking into other options.
@Evelyn Gillen: they take part in the programme which is great and they don’t send their tests to the USA which is even better . I have chosen to do one every year as I had abnormal results some years ago and don’t want to chance it doing it only every 3 years as per the programme allowance and I think 2017 test ( which is outside of programme ) I did pay 100 euros . Last year it was free as it was part of cervical check .
@Isabel Oliveira: Yes I had mine done in well woman too.Always do as my G.P doesnt facilitate cervical check.Took 9 weeks.
@Evelyn Gillen: 7-9 weeks if you’re willing to pay more. Nearly 7months if not in an area where speed of knowledge is paramount. What a disgusting system.
‘varadkar said harris informed him a few weeks ago’
While in an M&S queue or officially? Surely if it was the latter there’d be minutes taken. So he’d know exactly when
@Bill Clay: A few weeks ago they were on holidays, was probably over a glass of Eggnog as they pulled Christmas crackers. Just one of those things you slip in for convivial conversation.
@Bill Clay: how in the name of God do people put up with such shoddy politicians like these numpties? Must be scrapings of the bottom of the barrel bearing in mind our very best people have left.
Harris studied to be a journalist, he is in charge of Ireland’s national health services and hasn’t a clue what he is doing,remove him as enough lives have been lost due to his lack of knowledge and management skills.
@@mdmak33: studied and didn’t qualify…shows his character really doesn’t it..
Might as well lash out all the bad news out while Brexit has the headlines….. I`m just surprised they didn`t wait until midnight on Friday though
Just had a repeat smear taken today. I had one in October last but it wasn’t clear they said. How could I have had a reading as quickly as that if, as I told by the nurse taking it today, it is taking 6 months for a result.
Why did the minister advise people to have extra tests done which have now caused a serious backlog to an already pressurised situation. 6 months for a result is just too long
@@UK: women should get the HPV vaccine. Its approved to 45 years old. I got it at 26 years old. I still get smear tests but im sure at least a couple of women will benefit from the vaccine.
The Irish media are as much to blame. In fact I’d go as far as saying they are more to blame because it is their job to hold these politicians to account, but instead pander to them.
It’s sickening.
@Bill Clay: The Irish media “ Are “ the government!
@Bill Clay: what media? FFFG and Danny ?
@Gus Sheridan: read Dinny ..bloody spellcheck
What a farce of a setup. Martin and FF telling FG you’re doing this wrong and doing that wrong and doing everything wrong, but together, they are destroying the country.
What does Simon Harris have to do to lose his job? He’s clearly totally out of his depth and Ireland can’t afford to keep him as Minister for Health until an anticipated cabinet reshuffle in the Summer.
I’ve been waiting 6 months. As someone who has previous treatment it’s very stressful to be waiting this long for a result. The way things are going I’ll be due my next test by the time the results for this one come back!
What if these women waiting have symptoms of cervical cancer? Now they have to retest!! This seems wrong!
Disgraceful
The risk on this is huge, we have a system that failed 221 women not once but multiple times. How can you have that many repeated fails.
We had had what was described as the ruthless Dr.Scally his report which seems to be a handling function by a person who has worked for HSE before and is a private consultancy firm, he knew his job. Seems even using non ISO labs tis fine.
You either buy capacity in for the failed system while you fix or load it into the private system or do something equivalent. You don’t do a Lucius Commodus and announce new tests for everyone cause you got caught in the headlights. This will yield undoubtedly lead to a new clump of life threatening illness. The game is always , always time with these guys. If you’d Lead you’d be given all the time you wanted.
The words ‘plot’ and ‘lost’ come to mind
How further has Leo to go to prove he really hates women.
Can we not set up a cervical check facility in Ireland?!
@Lisa McDonnell: we could easily if we had a government that didn’t have a globalist agenda and try and privatise everything.
Funny how all the women had a love in with these two idiots to give them the 8th repeal they need for the EU but no one ever thought they’d turn their backs on women so soon? Pull the other one!
It beggars belief Martin FF stands up everyday and slates the Government the way they are running the Country and when it comes to a vote of no confidence he votes for FG to stay in Government. This man and his Party are a national disgrace .
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