Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

While the Coombe Women and Infant's University Hospital is not currently processing cervical screening samples for the CervicalCheck programme, current services are not affected as an alternative laboratory is able to provide testing for 100% of samples. CervicalCheck is currently up to date with invitations for screening and by the end of 2021, it had screened the same amount of people as in any other two year period, notwithstanding the cyberattack and the pandemic.

A sum of €20 million has been committed for the construction, fit-out and staffing of a new national cervical screening laboratory. The cyberattack in 2021 meant that the Coombe hospital lost IT connectivity with CervicalCheck and could not accept samples for testing. Prior to that, the Coombe hospital was processing about 10% of community samples. CervicalCheck has increased its capacity with the main provider of the testing programme and is currently meeting all testing standards and turnaround times. The Coombe hospital has recently restored its IT connectivity and it is envisaged that it will be in a position to recommence sample taking in the next few weeks.

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