Cancer screening - Champagne on ice until service begins

ANY innovation that reduces the risk posed by cancer is welcome, most especially if it is long overdue.

However, families who lost mothers, wives or sisters because screening services for cervical cancer were not in place when they needed them will temper their welcome for yesterday’s announcement of an improved service with an understandable degree of regret.

Their welcome will also be qualified by the unfortunate reality that promises made about the provision of health services — and school buildings — are no more than words and that the champagne should be kept on ice until the service is fully operational.