SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin has said that women in the North are being left behind by the failure to introduce HPV screening.
Recently, it was revealed that the Western Trust had missed abnormal cells in one woman’s smear tests in 2014 and 2017, prompting a Serious Adverse Incident to be launched.
Said Ms McLaughlin: “The importance of screening for cervical cancer cannot be under-stated in order to increase the rates of early detection and treatment and ultimately reduce the number of cases each year.
“Unfortunately, the inexcusable failure to introduce HPV screening here so far means that women in the North are being disadvantaged compared to women in Great Britain or the South.
“The need for this screening to be introduced without delay was reinforced recently after it was revealed that the Western Trust missed abnormal cells in one woman’s smear tests over two years.
“This news understandably provoked shock and concern among many and provided further evidence of the need for HPV screening in Northern Ireland.
“While I am pleased that the Department recently confirmed to me that the introduction of HPV screening will not be delayed by the absence of a Minister, there is still a need to reconfigure laboratory services to introduce this programme, which will take time and I am also aware that there is a backlog of cervical smear tests yet to be checked across Trusts, due to the lack of staff.
“It’s very frustrating that at this point, we don’t have a Health Minister to question on these issues and hold accountable for the urgent delivery of these vital services for women’s health.”
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