Dr. Gabriel Scally:

It would be far from ideal, let me put it that way. I will give a classic example that I came across several times. Some women had a normal smear result and then relatively shortly after developed symptoms that would otherwise have been regarded as really quite serious symptoms and indicative that something serious might be going on. When they came forward with those symptoms they were told they had just had a normal smear, they had no need to worry, and that they should go away and come back if it did not stop. There seems to be a failure of education there in that the staff did not understand that the test might not pick up everything and that serious symptoms should be dealt with on a serious basis irrespective of when they occur. There was some evidence of delays in the treatment of women because of them having had a normal smear and it was regarded that it could not possibly be a serious cervical cancer issue.

Education of staff is extremely important. Education of patients on cancer in general about early recognition of symptoms is also important. We need to give patients the knowledge to recognise their symptoms, encouraging them to come forward and be able to engage in discussion with doctors and others about how these symptoms need to be investigated. Public education is important as well as professional education.