Smear test results delay 'disgraceful' - Keogh

The Well Woman Centre chairwoman has described as a disgrace the fact that thousands of woman must wait up to ten weeks for the results of cervical smear tests.

These disgraceful delays are causing huge anxiety to women, many of whom put their lives on hold while waiting for this vital information. Ms Helen Keogh, Well Woman Centre chairwoman

Ms Helen Keogh, who is also a Fine Gael senator, said: "These disgraceful delays are causing huge anxiety to women, many of whom put their lives on hold while waiting for this vital information".

"Cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable if caught and treated in time." She said a national cervical screening plan urgently needed to be put in place.

"The longer we continue without a screening plan, the longer women will continue to slip through the cracks, the longer we will see women over 60 dying each year," she said.

Ms Keogh strongly criticised of the Minister for Health saying: "The national programme for cervical screening was due to be up and running by 1999, according to the Plan for Women’s Health. The Minister needs to stop playing around with women’s health and get on with implementing a national screening programme".

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "National cervical screening was launched in October 2000 in Mid-Western Health Board. The continued roll-out on a phased basis is under consideration."

"The department has allocated funds to facilitate meeting service demands," he added.