Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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320. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in receiving a result back from a smear test through the CervicalCheck screening programme for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53627/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that, on 1 May this year, I asked CervicalCheck to make the necessary arrangements to provide that any woman who has had a CervicalCheck smear test, and whose GP considers that they should have a further test, to access such a further test without charge. CervicalCheck laboratory activity has since been significantly above normal levels. This is as a result both of these out of cycle smears and increased uptake generally, and has impacted turnaround times for results of smear tests. This is a priority concern for my Department.

The HSE has advised that, currently, receipt of results of smear tests may take up to 20 weeks, that it may take longer in a small number of cases, and that it is working closely with laboratories to address this issue.

In relation to the results of this particular individual, I have asked the HSE to provide this information directly to the Deputy.