Smear tests halted due to hospital staff freeze

THE hospital that carries out vital smear tests on behalf of women in the south-east has advised doctors it can no longer do so because of the health service staff freeze.

Clinical director of laboratory medicine at University College Hospital Galway (UCHG), Professor Martin Cormican, has written to doctors in the south-east advising them of a “discontinuation” of the gynaecology cytology service in the region.

In his letter, Prof Cormican says the Department of Cytology at UCHG will be unable to provide a diagnostic gynaecological cytology service from the end of October because of the Health Service Executive (HSE) staff freeze introduced in September.