The Southern Health and Social Care Trust provides a Cervical Cytology Service as part of the Northern Ireland Cervical Screening Programme. The screening programme looks for changes in cells which, without treatment, could develop into cancer.
In July 2022, senior laboratory staff notified the Trust’s management team that they had concerns about performance in some steps of their laboratory’s screening system. To fully investigate these concerns, the Trust commissioned the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath Consulting) to undertake an independent assessment of its cervical screening services from 1 January 2008 and October 2021.
Therefore as a precautionary measure, the Southern Trust made a decision to review the records of about 17,000 women screened during the period in question. The purpose of the review is to look again for abnormalities to double check that the correct information was provided.
In the majority of cases, we will be able to review the previous smear, which is stored in our laboratory, but in some cases, we will invite women to attend for a further smear test. Letters have been issued to all women whose records will be reviewed with further information. If you do not receive a letter from us, your records have not been identified as needing review.
There is no need for women to contact their GP to make an appointment for a smear test unless they have recently received an invitation to attend for one as part of the routine screening programme.
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| Elected Representative information | Frequently asked questions | |
Feedback from women attending call forward smear clinics
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Cervical Screening Review update | 11 December 2024
Cervical Screening Review update | 21 November 2024
Cervical Screening Review update | 26 September 2024
Cervical Screening Review update | 25 April 2024
Cervical Screening Review update | 05 March 2024
Cervical Screening Review update | 25 January 2024
Cervical Screening Review update | 12 January 2024
Cervical Screening Review update | 11 December 2023
Cervical Screening Review update | 09 October 2023
A Freephone Information line, which is run by the Trust, has been set up to answer any questions you may have. Telephone 0800 9520255. Monday to Friday. Please leave a short message with your name and contact number and we will get back to you.
A dedicated email address is also available cervical.review@southerntrust.hscni.net