Women now facing anxious 8-week wait for smear test results

THOUSANDS of women face months of anxiety, with staff shortages in cervical screening leading to massive delays in smear test results being sent out.

Women turning up for their test are being warned that it may be up to eight weeks until they receive their results – four times the usual two-week period.

With the procedure itself a source of angst for some women, they now face the added worry of a long wait afterwards. NHS Inform, Scotland’s official online source of health information, said: ‘There are currently delays in issuing cervical screening results from both of the laboratories in Scotland. Please do not worry if you have not received your cervical screening result within the standard two-week period.

‘If you’ve been waiting more than eight weeks for your result, please ask your GP practice to contact the lab to check on your sample.’

While experts said the longer wait was unlikely to adversely affect women’s health, they acknowledged it could add to anxiety about the result.

The test changed in March 2020 to make it better at identifying people at risk – although the way it is carried out is the same.

Previously, a sample of cells from the cervix, or neck of the womb, was examined under a microscope.

Now the sample is checked for the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is the main cause of cervical cancer. What happens next depends on whether highrisk HPV is found in the sample.

The test is offered to women aged 25-64 every five years.

Samantha Dixon, chief executive of the charity Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: ‘Waiting for results can be a really difficult time, especially if the wait is longer than you expected.

‘Do remember that the majority of screening results come back as normal,

‘Waiting can be difficult if longer than expected’

and also that cervical cancer, in the majority of cases, takes a long time to develop. So while a delay might be worrying, it is very unlikely to have a negative impact on your health.’

The change in testing saw Scotland’s cytology [cell analysis] lab service switch from seven centres run by NHS boards to two ‘super-labs’ which deliver both HPV and cytology testing.

Last night a Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We understand a delay in receiving results may cause anxiety. Anyone awaiting a result should be assured that every effort is being made to process samples as quickly as possible.

‘There are currently delays in issuing a small proportion of cervical screening results from laboratories where the sample taken requires further review.

‘This is largely due to staffing pressures, which are being actively addressed. Some samples need a further review, and in the vast majority of cases is not a cause for concern.’