A cervical cancer survivor has hit out at the Government and HSE after it emerged that all cervical cancer samples are being sent abroad for screening.
The Coombe hospital is the only Irish hospital that processes CervicalCheck samples but it has been paused since December due to a cyber-attack, the HSE has said.
But a HSE spokeswoman has also admitted that “there is a severe unavailability” of trained staff.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said he is not happy and said it is something “we are looking at.”
Following Vicky Phelan highlighting the CervicalCheck scandal in 2018, a report by Dr Gabriel Scally recommended the State develop a National Cervical Screening Laboratory which is due to be fully constructed by June and operational before September this year.
However, Minister Donnelly was unable to provide an update on this on Monday.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror, cervical cancer survivor and patient advocate Lorraine Walsh said it was “very disappointing” to hear that no CervicalCheck samples were being processed in Ireland given overall hospital operations had resumed at the Coombe.
She said: “It’s the same old story repeating itself over and over.
“Women’s healthcare in this country is just not a priority.
“There has been a huge investment out into a new lab to make sure smears can be read in Ireland.
“We now know, six months on after the cyberattack and there’s no smears being done in Ireland.
“What are they doing to address the staffing issues?
“What have they been doing for the last four years to ensure there would be cytopathologists available by the time it opens?
“We’ve had four years of lip-service given to CervicalCheck and you know, a promised change to the system and a better service for the women of Ireland.”
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Minister Donnelly said he was waiting on the HSE to give him an update on the €20 million new national cervical screening laboratory being built at the Coombe.
He said: “There is activity in the hospital. I know they’ve hired people and they’re looking at various training for some of the consultants involved but critically we need to make sure that the samples are screened in ireland.
“That’s what the Government has committed to, that’s what needs to happen.”
However, the Minister did not respond to further queries from the Irish Mirror.
Ms Walsh said the pausing of processing CervicalCheck samples at the Coombe isn’t news to Minister Donnelly.
She added: “He should be fully aware of this if he's on top of his game.
“He should have been able to respond somewhat better.
“If women’s health is such a priority and knowing all that has happened in relation to CervicalCheck in this country over the last four years, you’d think it’s one of the things that he was keeping an eye on.”
In a statement, the HSE said the cyber-attack on the Coombe in December resulted in the hospital losing its IT connectivity with CervicalCheck.
The HSE also confirmed that the Coombe tests samples that come from Colposcopy and Gynaecology services that may require additional samples.
Ms Walsh added: “I think for women attending colposcopy there was comfort in knowing they were read in Ireland.”
A HSE spokeswoman said a US lab, Quest Diagnostics, is processing all Irish samples.
She said the Coombe “hopes to be in a position to recommence sample testing in the coming weeks.”
She added: “There is a severe unavailability of Principal cytopathologist at the Coombe currently, however the Hospital has been working on putting in place contingency to cover this unavailability to allow it to recommence taking samples.
“The top risk to immediate and long-term success of the National Cervical Screening Laboratory (NCSL) is the availability and recruitment of cytopathology staff, namely consultant cytopathologists.”
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