The tests are used to screen for cervical cancer and are provided to women aged 25-64.
Women in Northern Ireland are having to wait up to 16 weeks for the results of potentially life saving smear tests.It is understood the delays are due in large part because the Department of Health didn’t train enough people to read the tests and has had to bring in outside help to deal with the backlog.A woman, who has asked not to be named, told us: “I learned about the delay when I went for my first smear test since the pandemic.
“The delay could mean any woman who finds out she has cells that could become cancerous has to wait so long to find out, never mind get treatment. It’s just not good enough.“They were very apologetic about the delay and told me it was because there weren’t enough staff trained to read the results and said they’ve had to bring in outside help to try and cut the waiting time.”
Northern Ireland’s Public Health Agency say early detection can prevent eight out of 10 cases of cervical cancer. “Screening processes and outcomes are monitored on an ongoing basis as part of the PHA’s quality assurance mechanisms, which include monitoring any change in trends during this period of delays in lab reporting.
“The interim model uses a combined, two-step process involving high-risk human papillomavirus testing as a method of triage, as well as the existing cytology investigation .
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