Mr. Damien McCallion:

This was a crisis of the most significant proportions and there is a lot of learning to be had by the system as a whole. We have tried to see how it may apply to other settings too. There remain significant challenges and we need to address the backlog because communication is important to a woman who has been waiting for a long time and wants to know when she will see her results. We still have work to do. Many of the ingredients have been put in place but I cannot say we can give clarity to all the people who are waiting as of yet and this is because we have yet to nail down the question of capacity. People want certainty and they want specific things. We have a long way to go to get the service on to a stable footing. Screening is a process involving the GP, the laboratory, colposcopy and treatment.

We feel we have learned a lot from patients and the many patient advocates who have stepped up have brought about huge change. Patients are at the centre of this and, as we have brought patients into the various aspects of the programme and its structures, it has brought about a unique change in how we approach our work.