Regional cytology lab for cervical cancer screening un-equipped to operate HPV testing
Health committee members have now called for answers from health officials over the transfer of HPV testing to Belfast last year, despite a dedicated site not being ready for use.The Public Health Agency has said that the contract was awarded to Belfast Trust following a 'robust expression of interest process'.Since Belfast Trust began running the testing service in November 2024 cytology staff have been sharing the Trust's virology laboratory to process the tests.In the first few months around 5000 tests also had to be sent to a laboratory in Gateshead to help clear a massive backlog.The Belfast Trust said that the current set up is having 'no impact on the day-to-day processes of cytology testing for HPV.'It is understood that the initial backlog in processing results has been considerably reduced and waiting times for test results have also fallen.Northern Ireland's cervical screening programme has been under intense scrutiny after a highly critical report into cervical screening at the Southern Health Trust found women, including two who had died, had been failed over many years.After the scandal it was decided to centralise all screening within one laboratory in Northern Ireland.Belfast Trust won the contract, even though it had never before carried out HPV testing, unlike the Western Health Trust and the Northern Trust, who also applied to deliver the regional service.Stormont Health Committee member Diane Dodds told UTV she was 'appalled' to hear that the HPV testing service was still not operating in a dedicated laboratory. The DUP MLA added: 'We know that when we decided to set up regional HPV testing that two trusts already had accreditation, that the recommendation was that (the service) should be over two sites, yet the Public Health Agency have gone ahead and centralised in the Belfast Trust, which isn't accredited and hasn't got a properly functioning laboratory.'That's really letting women down. We need a screening programme that women can have full confidence in.'UTV has spoken to several sources who have described the current working conditions within the virology lab as 'cramped'. They said that cytology staff are frustrated at the delay in moving to the dedicated laboratory.This is not the first time questions have arisen over the HPV testing service.When the contract was given to Belfast Trust two senior medics involved in Northern Ireland's cervical screening programme, resigned over their concerns about the service.In their resignation letter the two health care professionals said the Public Health Agency had ignored their misgivings, which included creating the new centralised cervical screening facility in the Belfast Health Trust.The PHA, which provides oversight of the screening programme, said that HPV testing will be located on the same site with cervical cytology. The health body said that the current arrangement 'is not uncommon and is recognised as acceptable practice within the NHS England guidance for primary HPV implementation guidance.'The PHA added: 'The Belfast Trust was awarded the contract for the regional cervical screening laboratory following a robust expression of interest process which considered Trust submissions against a range of key criteria.'The Belfast Trust scored highest in this process and was awarded the contract.'The PHA also said it expects accreditation for HPV testing to be formalised 'following resolution of a small number of minor findings.'
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