Dr. Gabriel Scally, the principal investigator for the Republic of Ireland in the cervical check screening debate, has voiced his surprise that Northern Ireland has not implemented the HPV test as a screening tool. Utilized throughout the rest of the United Kingdom, the HPV test is highly successful at detecting the virus responsible for the majority of cervical cancer cases. It has been adopted in the Republic of Ireland, and Dr. Scally asserts that Northern Ireland has “no excuse” for not adopting it.
The Northern Ireland Department of Health has committed to adopting this testing procedure, however its implementation is questionable due to the absence of an executive and assured financing. This puts hundreds of women at risk of missing cancer-causing defects if left untreated.
Southern and Western health trusts have apologised for their involvement in the care of a woman who underwent a severe hysterectomy after it was discovered that her test contained malignant cells. The Southern Health Trust (SHT) is currently undertaking a risk assessment to see if screening samples were more likely to miss abnormalities between 2019 and 2021. It is anticipated that the evaluation will take 10 weeks to complete.
The goal of the Republic of Ireland to eradicate cervical cancer highlights the need of HPV testing and vaccination. Susan (not her real name), a 45-year-old woman impacted by the problem, was distraught by her diagnosis and astonished and disturbed that previous tests had been misinterpreted.
Too many women in Northern Ireland die from cervical cancer, and it is imperative that progress be made in adopting the HPV test and other preventative measures. If you have been affected by any of the concerns discussed in this article, please contact the BBC Action Line for assistance.
