Only 20% of Derry women receiving smear results within 28 days

Figures released from The Western Health & Social Care Trust show that the turnaround times for cervical smear tests have dropped significantly over the last few years.

In 2018, nearly 100% of women would receive their smear test results within 28 days. Latest figures show that only 20.25% of women received their results within a four week window during 2022.

Between January 1 2018 and December 31 2018, 98.52% of women received their results within 28 days, 93.49% for the same dates in 2019, 98.3% for 2020 and 87.33% in 2021.

This drops by nearly 70% over the course of last year.

The Western Trust explained that delays are due to a number of factors including backlogs caused by the  COVID-19 pandemic, capacity- staff redeployed to other duties and difficulty filling vacant  posts- and general pressures on wider pathology services.

A spokesperson said the figures are also "in the context of a transition period to primary HPV testing" - a way of testing the sample of cells taken at appointment.

They explained: "This tests for a virus called high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) that can cause cervical cell changes to develop into cervical cancer.

"HPV causes 99.7% of cervical cancers, so testing for it at cervical screening is the most accurate and  sensitive way to find out who is at a higher risk of developing cervical cell changes or  cervical cancer.

"Similar backlogs were experienced in other countries when they  transitioned and this remains relevant to the Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust)."

Between 2021 and 2022, in the Western Trust a number of staff left the cervical  screening programme. The Western Trust sought to replace these staff however there is a regional shortage of trained staff and locum screeners.

The spokesperson added: "Due to this regional shortage  of trained screening staff the WHSCT continue to support the region, in particular the  Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT), with screening of cervical cytology  samples.

"Whilst this has impacted the specific turnaround for WHSCT samples it has  assisted equity of service provision within the whole screening programme.

SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan expressed his concern at the recent findings. He said that cervical screening services in the North are "already lagging far behind its counterparts elsewhere on these islands" but the latest delays in smear test results are "completely unacceptable".

Mr Durkan said: “Five years ago the Western Trust met target waiting times for smear test results for 98% of its patients- by 2022 that dropped drastically to just over 20%. Meanwhile women are waiting anxiously for answers.

"I’ve received complaints from many constituents around these waits and know that in some cases people are waiting in excess of 6 months for cervical screening results.

“While I appreciate the significant staffing issues and general pressures on wider pathology services, this is not the quality of care people should expect from the health service. Sadly, these staggering delays are reflected across trust areas.

"The reality is that the target turnaround time of 28 days is not being met. In addition, the long-promised adoption of HPV primary screening cannot be delivered in the absence of a minister.

"Patients here are being denied a life-saving diagnostic test which could prevent cancers developing. It is a disgrace that the North remains the only jurisdiction in the UK or Ireland not to adopt HPV screening. Efforts are needed to drive recruitment and tackle the regional staff shortage head-on. We need a functioning government in place to deliver a budget as well as meaningful legislation that will improve and save lives.”