SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath has expressed serious concern at a report looking at smear tests in the Southern Trust.
The Royal College of Pathologists report identified several failings, with 17,500 women set to have their tests re-checked, with some being recalled for new tests to be carried out.
Mr McGrath raised the issues with the Southern Trust in a meeting on Monday.
South Down MLA Mr McGrath said:
“Given the crucial role that regular smear tests play in protecting women’s health and detecting cervical cancer it is seriously concerning that the report from the Royal College of Pathologists has identified a litany of failings in the way the Southern Trust has handled cervical screening dating back to 2008.
“This report outlines how the systems were not in place to ensure that these tests were being carried out correctly and that management failed to act. This will cause serious worry to the thousands of women impacted by this situation and while the vast majority of women concerned should hopefully be unaffected, there can be no excuses for what has happened here.
“I welcome the Department of Health’s confirmation that the full introduction of primary HPV testing should conclude by the end of this year. This will be crucial in removing the backlog for issuing the results of smear tests and ensuring women have access to the most effective tests available.
“The Southern Trust must implement the recommendations of the Royal College of Pathologists as soon as possible and put processes in place to ensure that this never happens again. This situation is symptomatic of the failings around women’s health care that the SDLP has been raising for some time.”
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