Dr Gabriel Scally to review CervicalCheck programme revisions

Minister for Health says six of 170 actions now remain to be completed

Dr Gabrial Scally conducted his scoping inquiry more than three years ago. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill
Dr Gabrial Scally conducted his scoping inquiry more than three years ago. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill

A final review of revisions to the CervicalCheck screening programme has been initiated with recommended actions now 96 per cent complete, the Department of Health has said.

Dr Gabriel Scally conducted his scoping inquiry more than three years ago in response to revelations that hundreds of women had not been informed of an audit of their cervical smear tests after being diagnosed with cancer.

He has consented to a request from Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to undertake a final review and will begin this month.

“Significant progress has been made in implementing Dr Scally’s recommendations since his last progress review report in April, 2020,” Mr Donnelly said on Tuesday.

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“Just six of the 170 actions arising now remain to be completed, and these are all in progress. I believe it is now timely and feasible to proceed with a final progress review.”

Since Dr Scally’s last report on the implementation of his recommendations almost two years ago, it was agreed a final review could take place when appropriate in the context of the pandemic and related uncertainty.

Dr Scally, a Professor of Public Health at the University of West of England and the University of Bristol, was originally asked to conduct his scoping inquiry in May, 2018.

Mark Hilliard

Mark Hilliard

Mark Hilliard is a reporter with The Irish Times