Results 81-100 of 189 for cervical speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (28 Jun 2018)

Simon Harris: Currently, the testing of cervical smear tests is carried out by the following three institutions: - Quest Diagnostics Inc, Teterboro, New Jersey USA; - MedLab Pathology Ltd, Dublin (US company); and - Coombe Women and Infant’s University Hospital, Dublin.  Approximately 50% of the testing is done in Ireland, with the remaining 50% being done outside Ireland. Currently,...

HPV Vaccine: Motion [Private Members] (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: ...However, we must continue to work so that uptake rates for all childhood vaccines do not just meet but exceed the WHO target. It is important that we remember why this issue is so important. Worldwide, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women and HPV immunisation is an important part of our childhood immunisation programmes, which protects women from developing cancer...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Contracts (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: Following a global search for capacity, Quest Diagnostics was identified by the HSE as having the necessary capacity to sustain the national cervical screening programme and a contract for the provision of this additional capacity was signed on 7 June. The HSE has advised that the financial arrangement entered into with Quest Diagnostics is commercially sensitive as the release of these...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (9 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 (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: Since 2010, as part of quality assurance measures, CervicalCheck reviewed the screening history of every woman notified to it as having a diagnosis of cervical cancer, who had previously been screened by the programme. The objective of audit and quality review at CervicalCheck was to facilitate continued improvement and ongoing learning within the programme. Following the issues which arose...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (12 Jun 2018)

Simon Harris: All laboratories contracted by CervicalCheck must operate in line with Quality Assurance standards and requirements set out by the cervical screening programme. Each laboratory is subject to ongoing monitoring by the programme to ensure compliance with QA standards. Although there are no specific guidelines in relation to how long cytology screening staff should assess an...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: In May 2018, I asked CervicalCheck to make the necessary arrangements to provide that any woman who had a CervicalCheck smear test, and whose GP considered that she should have a further test as part of her reassurance, could 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: National Cancer Strategy Implementation (30 May 2017)

Simon Harris: ...-based screening programmes are an important element of cancer control internationally. The National Screening Service (NSS) oversees the three national cancer screening programmes: BreastCheck, CervicalCheck and BowelScreen. The implementation of national, population based screening programmes for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer was recommended by the 2006 National Cancer...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (19 Feb 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: Cancer Screening Programmes (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: Following the emergence of issues relating to CervicalCheck earlier this year, the audit process was paused pending the outcome of the two reviews established by Government. The first of these was the report of the Scoping Inquiry into issues surrounding CervicalCheck. Dr Scally’s report was published on my Department's website on 12 September and includes 50 recommendations, all...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (7 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: .... All relevant and appropriate information is taken into account when deciding to make changes to the State's immunisation programmes. 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...

Order of Business (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I will revert to the Deputy specifically on a time limit. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK, along with the British Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology, have been asked to audit all of those files, and that work is about to commence.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Licensing (6 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: I wish to advise the Deputy that Pembrolizumab does not have a marketing authorisation for the treatment of cervical cancer in Ireland or the EU.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: I am aware of the limitations of screening, as is the Deputy. I am aware that cervical cancer is a most devastating disease and that it disproportionately affects younger women. I would like Dr. Henry to talk about them.

Other Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: ...that that will include issues relating to screening. I also want to move to HPV testing this year. I asked the HSE to introduce HPV testing as the primary screening method for the prevention of cervical cancer as soon as possible. The HPV test is a more accurate testing mechanism than liquid-based cytology which is the current testing mechanism and it would have fewer false negative...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (26 Oct 2016)

Simon Harris: The HPV vaccine, which was introduced in 2010, protects girls from 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 and there are approximately 70 deaths per year. The HPV vaccine protects against two high risk types of HPV that...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (19 Jun 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 344 together. There was an extensive debate on the safety of the HPV vaccine and its efficacy in preventing the development of cervical cancer in this House on 28 March last in which a motion was passed unanimously which recognised that the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine protects young girls from developing a cervical cancer when they grow up,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Cervical Screening Programme Data (17 May 2018)

Simon Harris: Currently cervical smear testing is carried out by three laboratories: - Quest Diagnostics Inc, Teterboro, New Jersey USA; - MedLab Pathology Ltd, Dublin; and - Coombe Women and Infant’s University Hospital, Dublin. Approximately 50% of the testing is done in Ireland. All three laboratories meet quality assurance standards and are certified by the relevant national authorities.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (11 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: In May 2018, Government decided to provide a package of primary and social care supports for 221 women affected by the CervicalCheck issues and their families. This package of measures will also be provided to any woman identified through the ongoing Independent Clinical Expert Review as having discordant smear results on review. The Independent Clinical Expert Review is being carried...

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

Simon Harris: I have asked the HSE to introduce HPV testing as the primary screening method for the prevention of cervical cancer as soon as possible. The HPV test is a more accurate testing mechanism than liquid-based cytology, which is the current testing mechanism, and its use will result in fewer false negative results, though it will not eliminate them completely. Its introduction is in line with...