Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In reading the health section in the programme for Government one might think the Government intends to provide a better health service for all. In its approach to many health issues it has, in fact, been very blasé. On the issue of the cervical screening programme, one of my constituents had her test in mid-July, but she has not yet received the results. It usually takes four weeks for the results to be sent, but four and a half months have gone by without a response, which is totally unacceptable. She used the words "fear", "stress" and "worry" in speaking to me about the matter during a long telephone conversation. Does the Taoiseach or the Minister for Health have words of comfort for this and many other ladies who are in the same position? It really is intolerable and unacceptable.

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