HSE apologises as backlog in smear test checks increases

THERE has been a significant increase in the backlog in checking smear test slides following the CervicalCheck scandal, the HSE has said.

The health executive has been forced to apologise as the wait has jumped from six to 12 weeks in most cases, but is even longer in others.

Extra staff have been drafted in at the labs dealing with the slides and in some cases, annual leave has been scrapped.

Concerns over the accuracy of test results has prompted a surge in requests for repeat smear tests by women.

This began after the CervicalCheck scandal erupted in April when Vicky Phelan was awarded €2.5million.

The 43-year-old was diagnosed with cancer in 2014, some three years after she got the all-clear in 2011. Although an audit in 2014 found that abnormalities had been missed, and she was diagnosed as having cancer, she only found out about the audit three years later.

The HSE said that due to a current high level of demand for early repeat smear tests with CervicalCheck, there has been a slowdown in the processing of all screening tests.

‘The current backlog for processing slides is up to 12 weeks. In some cases, this may be longer,’ it said.

‘We apologise unreservedly for this delay and are working as hard as possible to reduce this waiting time. Laboratories have brought on additional staff, commenced overtime within the parameters of CervicalCheck standards, tapped into their wider organisation for assistance, and in some cases cancelled annual leave.’

Separately, the HSE said that as of July 30, all smear test samples are transferred to slides within a six-week timeframe. After six weeks, the sample is deemed expired and cannot be processed.

The HSE said last night: ‘CervicalCheck is making all efforts to avoid expired samples or vials and is continuing to monitor this closely with the laboratories.’