October rollout of HPV screening is in doubt: Varadkar
LEO Varadkar has said the rollout of crucial HPV screening may be delayed‘ given the change to personnel’ in CervicalCheck.
The revelation comes despite Gove r n ment pledges to focus on women’s health following the failures of the smear test scandal.
Last month the Taoiseach vowed this new, more accurate screening test would be rolled out by October.
However, yesterday Mr Varadkar said the new checks may not now be brought in in October as had been promised. He said it remains the target date, but there is pressure on them ‘given the change to personnel’.
Referring to recent resignations in the fallout from the scandal, he said: ‘It will be more difficult now, given the fact that there is no clinical director’.
The clinical director of CervicalCheck, Dr Gráinne Flannelly decided to step aside from her role last month in the wake of controversy over incorrect smear test results.
The Taoiseach said: ‘Up to now the plan was to introduce the new test in October. Given the change of personnel and the disruption to CervicalCheck, it is still anticipated that the October target will be met, but it will be more difficult It will require tendering for labs and for virology for example. October remains the target date.’
Labour leader Brendan Howlin said the Taoiseach had indicated the current testing programme has a reliability rate of between 65% and 70%, which was a surprise to many people.
‘The Taoiseach explained why this is the case and that the new HPV test has 100% accuracy because it tests for the HPV virus but that the virus is the cause of only 70% of cervical cancers,’ he said.
Mr Howlin asked i f the screening would now improve substantially, ‘or, as I have read in some publications, will the existing screening continue in parallel with HPV screening to significantly increase the probability of accurate testing of cervical cancer?’
The Taoiseach replied that these were valid questions about the science of the new screening tests. ‘I am reluctant to answer that – because one may answer it awry,’ he said. ‘However, I know that since 2015 HPV testing has been introduced where a lowgrade or a high-grade abnormality is identified.
‘The plan now is to move to primary screening where the test is done for HPV first and cytology later.
‘At least that is my understanding of it, but I would be afraid to answer that question in too much detail.’
HPV refers to the human papilloma virus, which causes cervical cancer.
Mr Varadkar said Ireland would become one of the first countries in the world to introduce the screening service.
Health Minister Simon Harris went even further than the Taoiseach, saying he was looking at introducing it even earlier than the October deadline in the wake of the scandal.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald ratcheted up the pressure on State’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan after it emerged he received memos in 2016 showing delays in women with cancer being told about false smear tests. She said it was ‘extraordinary’ that the Chief Medical Officer did not share particular information with the Taoiseach.
Women like Vicky Phelan had been calling for accountability, Ms McDonald reminded the Taoiseach.
Comment – Page 14 senan.molony@dailymail.ie
‘No clinical director’