A closer look at cervical smear uptake and results pre- and post- introduction of the national screening programme

Prior to the introduction of a national cervical screening programme, death rates from cervical cancer in the Republic of Ireland were greater than the death rates in all other regions in Britain and Northern Ireland. The following audit compares the impact of the national cervical screening programme, established on 1 September '08, on uptake and results per age group screened before and after its implementation. This retrospective audit was carried out in a four-doctor practice with approximately 1554 GMS and 5000 private patients. Data over a ten month period in '08/'09 was collected from the practice record of cervical smears and compared to the same period in '07/'08. A cohort of 534 Irish urban women was included. A total number of 148 women were screened between October 2007 and July 2008 compared with 386 women screened over the same months in 2008/2009. Increase in uptake was most marked in the 25-44 years age group, 100 ('07-'08) vs. 303 ('08-'09). The majority of results for both time periods were negative (85% 07/08, 81% 08/09). There was a higher number of HSIL in '08-'09 (an increase from 1% to 3.37% of the total screened). This audit clearly supports the introduction of the national cervical screening programme showing both an increase in uptake and a increased pick-up of high grade lesions.