Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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162. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention was drawn to the different levels of detection rates in the three different laboratories performing CervicalCheck; if an investigation was done into possible causes for the differences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21703/18]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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163. To ask the Minister for Health the level of detection rates for cervical checks in the different laboratories performing same in each of the years 2008 to 2017 inclusive. [21704/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 together.

These questions relate to matters which are now the subject of a Scoping Inquiry that I established on 8 May 2018.

The Terms of Reference of the Scoping Inquiry, which is being led by Dr Gabriel Scally, are very comprehensive and include the following in relation to laboratories contracted by CervicalCheck:

- examine the tendering, contracting, operation, conflict of interest arrangements, performance information and performance management, accreditation and quality assurance of contracted cytology laboratory services by CervicalCheck from initiation of the programme.

I believe it appropriate that an expert clinical inquiry examines these matters.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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164. To ask the Minister for Health the number of clinicians that were contacted by CervicalCheck on foot of the smear test review; and if all of these clinicians have made contact with all their patients that are covered by the audit [21706/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the HSE that approximately 30 clinicians were contacted by CervicalCheck on foot of the smear test review.

A total 205 of the 209 women, or their next-of-kin, where the audit showed their test could have provided a different result, have been contacted and efforts are continuing to contact the remaining women.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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165. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the cases of cervical cancer that were not audited; the number of these cases in which the woman had had a smear test; the number of persons that have not been contacted; the reason for same; if all of the women have been contacted; and his views on their situation [21707/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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 completed and fully validated.  

The Deputy will be aware that an International Clinical Expert Review Panel, led by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists with expert input from the British Association of Colposcopists & Cervical Pathologists, is being established. This independent review panel will consider all cases of invasive cervical cancer in Ireland since the inception of the CervicalCheck screening programme and will identify those cases who were screened by the programme.  The process will examine the screening history of women who were screened by CervicalCheck and will identify those who had a previous smear(s) prior to their diagnosis.  For these women the expert panel will review their screening, cytological and clinical histories and undertake a re-examination of their cytology tests.  Where the review opinion of the cytology result(s) differs to the original result provided by CervicalCheck, the review panel will endeavour to determine any failures to prevent cancer or  to intervene at an earlier stage and will prepare individual reports for those affected, establishing the facts and the implications where these have been determined.

I should also mention that a Working Group, including representatives from the Department and the HSE, will be established to work with the review panel in order to ensure that any issues are resolved and progressed.

Finally, I can assure the Deputy that the additional women who have cervical cancer and also had cytology with the CervicalCheck programme will be prioritised.