6,000 women to be called for repeat smear tests

Almost 6,000 women are being called for a repeat smear test, following confirmation from the HSE that the quality and efficacy some samples have become invalid as a result of the backlog in testing.

Minister Harris's decision last year to offer repeat tests to women with genuine concerns following the CervicalCheck controversy resulted in unprecedented demand on the system.

The increase of 84,000 tests brought the total number of tests in 2018 to almost 350,000. Fianna Fáil deputy, Niamh Smyth, expressed concern about the backlog: “While I believe it was absolutely right to offer repeat smears to any woman who had concerns, the very least the Minister could have done was make sure that the necessary resources were in place to deal with the understandable surge in tests.

Deputy Smyth said this is a very real issue for many women in the region: “I have been contacted by constituents across Cavan and Monaghan who are still waiting for results from smears that were taken over five months ago. The HSE knew of the reduced efficacy of some samples back in November but they withheld that information.”

The Cavan Monaghan TD queried why affected women have not been contacted: “Minister Harris must come before the Dáil and answer these questions and more. We are calling on him to publish all verbal and written advice he received on this matter. Confidence in our health system is being eroded at lightning speed,” Deputy Smyth concluded.