Further independent smear test reviews to be considered after campaigner raises questions

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has indicated he will consider offering another independent assessment to women or bereaved families who were part of the major review of CervicalCheck smear tests.

It follows a call by the 221 support group to the Government to fund an independent assessment of the tests reviewed by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).

CervicalCheck campaigner Lorraine Walsh has said there is concern about some of the findings of the review in relation to some individual tests. The review re-examined the tests of more than 1,000 women who developed cervical cancer after going through CervicalCheck screening.

The purpose was to find out if the result of the pre-cancer test was different when independently reviewed, and whether abnormalities were missed.

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There is concern that, in a number of cases, women were told their test “was concordant” on review, even though their pre-cancer slide was unavailable.

Health Minister Simon Harris agreed with the Taoiseach’s position, a spokeswoman said.

The RCOG has stood over the review, which found that in 159 cases, cancer could have been either prevented or picked up earlier.

Twelve of these women have died.

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