Women 'angry and frustrated' over smear test review
Women affected by a review of cervical smears in the Southern Health Trust have said they are "angry, frustrated and scared" for their future.
About 17,500 patients in the trust are to have their previous smears re-checked as part of a major review of cervical screening dating back to 2008.
Some of these women will be recalled to have new smear tests carried out. But the process has not started yet and will take at least six months to complete.
Letters were sent out by the trust earlier this month to those affected.
The Southern Trust says it expects to recall around 4,000 women for a new smear test after it reviews 17,368 historic slides.
The Trust's medical director, Dr Steve Austin, told its board meeting that the review of slides was expected to start next week.
It also emerged that the number of calls from concerned women has increased with many asking for more "specialist" answers.
Source: BBC News, 27 October 2023