Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 2 May 2018

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

National Cervical Screening Programme: Department of Health, HSE, CervicalCheck and the National Cancer Control Programme

9:00 am

Mr. Tony O'Brien:

At this point in time the focus, as we have discussed, is on the first actions the SIMT has been taking forward. There is a discussion that will happen with the Department and clear guidance will be issued in relation to a process for this. The helpline is in operation. There have been a lot of calls and we have drafted in very significant additional resources, which Mr. Lynch has described. It is anticipated, however, that each callback is likely to generate a conversation that is likely to continue for up to half an hour. Even with that number of staff, with the number of calls, it is going to take a number of days for everyone to have that full detailed conversation. I am sorry that that is the case, but it is important that those conversations take place with the right, appropriately qualified personnel, as I know the committee will appreciate.

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