Coveney says he’s sorry for 60,000 smear result backlog

TÁNAISTE Simon Coveney yesterday apologised to women who have been waiting 18 weeks for their smear test results, saying ‘it is not good enough’.

It comes as the HSE confirmed a backlog of more than 60,000 smear tests following an increase in testing after the CervicalCheck scandal.

Speaking during Leaders’ Questions yesterday afternoon, Mr Coveney confirmed that the time taken to process smear tests had more than trebled and that some women were being forced to wait up to 18 weeks to get their results, with some having to wait even longer.

He said: ‘Unfortunately, results are currently being reported within 18 weeks of the tests being taken.

‘In a small number of cases, it is even longer than that.

‘It is not good enough and I would like to apologise to those patients affected and assure them that everything possible is being done to try and improve this situation.’

Mr Coveney said the increase in demand was due to women presenting for out-of-cycle smear tests and a dramatic surge in out-of-cycle tests due to the CervicalCheck crisis.

Mr Coveney was responding to Sinn Féin health spokesperson Louise O’Reilly, who said anyone with foresight would have known that there would be added pressure on the system when the smear re-tests offered to women were rolled out.

The HSE also apologised and confirmed that between May and September, 42,469 repeat, or out-ofcycle, tests were undertaken.

More than 86,210 smear samples are still in progress, compared to the usual figure of around 23,000.