The director of CervicalCheck, the national cancer screening service, has called for a functioning gynaecology service amid increased waiting lists across the country. Dr Nóirín Russell, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) and clinical director of CervicalCheck, said a functioning gynaecology service is vital to ensure women with symptoms are being seen, while CervicalCheck screens those without symptoms. Letterkenny General Hospital had 1,698 on its outpatient gynaecology waiting list in August (55% for more than a year). Meanwhile, there were 4,760 patients on the NTPF inpatient/day case waiting list for gynaecology procedures as of August 27 this year. CUMH boasted the highest waiting list for gynaecology procedures with 665, including almost 50% waiting more than a year.

Source: Irish Examiner November 15, 2020 13:41 UTC