Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I agree with previous speakers on the cervical cancer issue. Without getting involved in the vaccine issue, I was amazed to learn from a reply I received this week from the HSE that some hospitals can obtain the results of cervical cancer screening within 48 hours, while others take up to 25 weeks. The HSE has outsourced the service to America and the UK in order to speed up the backlog. Nevertheless, it is very unsatisfactory. I was appalled to learn, last week, that a woman specialist in Kerry, who on her own initiative charged only €40 per time for cervical smear tests in order to get a quick result, was precluded from doing this by the HSE even though patients were quite happy to pay for the service. Although she showed some initiative in the face of the massive backlog she was prevented by the HSE from doing the work.