Cancer Society seeks cervical screening programme

The Irish Cancer Society has reiterated its call for the introduction of a national cervical screening programme.

The society said a similar programme in the UK was saving up to 5,000 lives annually.

Around 65 Irish women die from cervical cancer every year.

The Cancer Society said it wanted a service established in four regional centres to screen women between the ages of 25 and 60.

Spokesperson Joan Kelly said: "It has been proven in other countries time and time again that this type of programme works very well and it should be done as a priority."