Written answers

Thursday, 19 February 2009

Department of Health and Children

Cancer Screening Programme

5:00 pm

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a company (details supplied) is meeting the turnaround times agreed with the National Cancer Screening Service for cervical cancer screening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6550/09]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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CervicalCheck, the National Cervical Screening Programme, became available to the 1.1 million eligible women aged 25 to 60 on 1 September 2008. The turnaround times for analysis of smear test results analysed by Quest Diagnostics Inc. for CervicalCheck, from receipt of sample at the cytology laboratory with complete and accurate information, to posting of the clinical result to the smeartaker (GP, practice nurse, medical practitioner), average less than 10 working days. In select cases, if the accompanying information is incomplete and/or inaccurate, the turnaround time is slightly increased as it takes longer to verify the sample and ensure quality and accuracy of associated data.

The programme has put in place a system to closely monitor the progress of each smear test taken. The data collected indicates the date a smear test was taken, the date it is entered into the cytological process and the date a result is issued. Programme performance data indicates that on average target turnaround times are being met and in many cases exceeded.

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