Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 268: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the colposcopy service is to be retained at Letterkenny General Hospital; the timeframe for the service to be made available to the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35580/08]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 298: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her Department will maintain existing colposcopy services at Letterkenny General Hospital on a permanent basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35932/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 298 together.

The National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) is responsible for the implementation of CervicalCheck, the National Cervical Screening Programme. Colposcopy services are an integral part of a population based screening programme. Women who have pre-cancerous cell changes detected by their smear test are referred for colposcopy. The NCSS is making a significant investment to enhance colposcopy services. This will ensure timely access to a quality assured colposcopy service for women who require further investigation.

It is important to ensure that as part of CervicalCheck, women can access colposcopy services within international best practice timeframes, based on adherence to quality assured clinical practice and the achievement of best clinical outcomes for women.

The NCSS has identified eleven colposcopy services to support CervicalCheck initially. The colposcopy service at Letterkenny General Hospital (LGH) has not been identified for initial referrals of women. However, in the interim LGH will continue to provide colposcopy services to women already attending or awaiting colposcopy.

The provision of additional colposcopy services to women in the North West is being examined. The colposcopy service at LGH requires a number of enhancements to meet the quality assurance standards defined by the NCSS. The NCSS is working with LGH and the question of the hospital's future participation in the colposcopy service for CervicalCheck will be considered in this context. I understand that progress on the issue was made in discussions held last week between the NCSS and LGH.