Women aged between 25 and 60 can avail of free smear tests from today as part of CervicalCheck, the country’s first national cervical screening programme.
Free tests will be provided every three years for women aged 25 to 44 and every five years for women aged 45 to 60 years. The purpose of screening is to detect cell changes before they become cancerous.
Results will be provided to women within four weeks of having a smear test taken. Most results will be found to be normal with only a small number of women requiring further investigation or treatment.
The overall aim of CervicalCheck is to reduce the incidence and the death rate from cervical cancer in Ireland.
A successful national screening programme has the potential to cut current Irish mortality rates from cervical cancer by up to 80 per cent.
A contract for the provision of smear taking services has been issued directly to GPs and medical practitioners throughout the country.
Once relevant documentation is completed, registered GPs and medical practitioners can provide free CervicalCheck smear tests.
Commenting on the contract acceptance rate, Tony O'Brien, CEO of the National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) said around 1,450 GPs, practice nurses, Family Planning and Well Woman clinics had registered to provide the tests.
"Feedback to date has been extremely positive and the NCSS anticipates that national coverage of participating GPs and medical practitioners will build incrementally during the coming weeks," he said.
Dr Marian O'Reilly, Head of Cervical Screening at the NCSS said: "Our objective is to deliver a quality assured screening service to women in Ireland in line with best international practice."
"We are delighted to deliver this screening programme that can make a real difference to women's lives by significantly reducing the incidence and death from cervical cancer in Ireland."
Details of registered smeartakers are currently available from CervicalCheck on freephone 1800 45 45 55.
Further details on the programme can be accessed by visiting www.cervicalcheck.ie.