Results 61-80 of 171 for cervical speaker:Simon Harris

Other Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: ...to ensure their feedback will go directly to the HSE. I will personally monitor the position closely. As the Deputy knows, there was a significant downward trend in the incidence of invasive cervical cancer between 2010 and 2015 and we are seeing improvements in five-year survival rates. For that progress to continue, it is essential that women keep participating in cervical screening....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I gave approval earlier this year for a switch to HPV testing as the primary cervical screening test, with cytology as a reflex test. This change will improve the sensitivity of testing, reducing the number of false negatives arising, although it is important to be clear that false negatives will always be part of any cervical screening programme. This change in testing remains a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: ...Mullen has asked some very important questions. The point I was trying to make in the article to which he referred is that the clinical audit related to people who had already been diagnosed with cervical cancer. That is the message we have been trying to communicate for the past two weeks. I did not want any woman watching these debates while sitting at home or in her workplace and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (30 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: ...judgement and discussion into which of these two groups any single false negative will fit. Following the Government decision on 8 May, I established an independent Expert Panel Review of Cervical Screening as part of the investigation into issues relating to the CervicalCheck Screening Programme. The review will be carried out by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (1 Jun 2017)

Simon Harris: ...that HIQA carry out a health technology assessment (HTA) into the clinical and cost effectiveness of using human papillomavirus (HPV) testing as the primary screening method for prevention of cervical cancer. The primary screening method currently used by CervicalCheck is liquid based cytology, with HPV testing as a secondary screening method. HIQA have now completed this HTA and the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (30 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: ...correspondence from an individual representing a group opposed to immunisation against HPV. In this correspondence he expresses concern about the vaccine and it effectiveness in preventing cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide. Each year in Ireland around 300 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 100 die from the disease. All...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Screening Programmes (11 Jul 2017)

Simon Harris: The HSE's National Screening Service provides evidence based screening programmes for breast, cervical and bowel cancer. These services operate in line with screening protocols internationally which are underpinned by National Guidelines for Quality Assurance and further supported by European policy guidelines. CervicalCheck provides free smear tests to women between the ages of 25 and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (10 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: On Tuesday 3 December, the Aggregate Report of the Independent Clinical Expert Panel Review of CervicalCheck, led by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK, was published on the website of my Department. The Expert Panel has concluded, based on its overall findings, that for many women who participated in this Review, screening undoubtedly saved their lives, that...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (29 Nov 2016)

Simon Harris: Each year in Ireland around 300 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine protects against two high risk types of HPV (16 & 18) that cause 73% of all cervical cancers. Vaccinated women and girls will still be at risk from other high risk types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer and will therefore need to continue to have regular cervical smear tests. NIAC...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: The HSE advises that the results of a cervical screening test (smear test) are sent to the GP or clinic of the woman who took the test, and that the HSE then writes to the woman to let her know when her results are available. In May 2018, I asked CervicalCheck to make the necessary arrangements to provide that any woman who had had a CervicalCheck smear test, and whose GP considered that...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Cervical Screening Programme (27 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: In May 2018, I asked CervicalCheck to make the necessary arrangements to provide that any woman who had had a CervicalCheck smear test, and whose GP considered that she should have a further test as part of her reassurance, to access such a further test without charge. This decision was made in good faith to address the considerable fears of the many anxious women in Ireland, following issues...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (13 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide. Each year in Ireland around 300 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 90 die from the disease. All cervical cancers are linked to high risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types. In 2009 the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) recommended HPV vaccination for all 12 year old girls to reduce their risk of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (31 May 2017)

Simon Harris: Each year in Ireland around 300 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine protects against two high risk types of HPV that cause 73% of all cervical cancers. There is scientific evidence of the beneficial impact of HPV vaccine for women's health in countries that have had high vaccine uptake rates. Cases of high grade pre-cancerous changes of the cervix have reduced by...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (10 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: Funding to implement the switch to HPV screening was allocated in Budget 2019. The introduction of primary HPV screening is in line with developments in cervical screening internationally. Ireland will be among the first countries in the world to make this transition. The HSE has been engaging with other countries who have already made the switch – the Netherlands, and Australia - or...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: ...Minister for Health, I rely on clinical advice. The clinical advice available to me is what I have stated on the record of the House. The HSE has clinically advised me that the natural history of cervical cancer indicates it is a disease that would normally develop over a period of ten to 15 years. Due to this fact, regular screening is very important in terms of reducing the risk....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Screening Programmes (19 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: The HSE advises that the results of a cervical screening test (smear test) are sent to the GP or clinic of the woman who took the test, and that the HSE then writes to the woman to let her know when her results are available. In this instance I take it that the Deputy is referring to a delay in the receipt of results following a smear test and will respond on that basis. In May 2018, I...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Cervical Screening Programme Data (16 May 2018)

Simon Harris: The HSE has advised that they will conclude the matching process with the National Cancer Registry in the next week in relation to women who were not part of the original CervicalCheck audit.   The Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to provide any further information in relation to the number of women involved, until such time as this data matching process is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (16 Sep 2016)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1275 and 1314 together. The HPV vaccine, Gardasil which was introduced in 2010, protects girls from developing cervical cancer when they are adults. It is available free of charge from the HSE for all girls in the first year of secondary school. Each year in Ireland around 300 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine protects...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (11 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: As part of the Government’s response to the events surrounding CervicalCheck earlier this year, I commissioned an independent clinical expert panel review to examine all cases of cervical cancer in women who had a screening history through CervicalCheck. This review is being conducted by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).  The review includes those...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Harris: ...diseases, paediatrics and public health. The committee's recommendations are informed by public health advice and international best practice. The HPV vaccine protects girls from developing cervical cancer when they are adults. It is available free of charge from the HSE for all girls in 1st year of secondary school. Each year in Ireland around 300 women are diagnosed with...