This petition requests the immediate reinstatement of Cervical Pap Smear screening in Ireland, currently suspended due to Coronavirus.

In Ireland every year, 300 women are diagnosed with Cervical Cancer, and 90 die. Early diagnoses is pivotal to the survival rates of the disease.

Already a service tainted with failure, we have seen the devastation that occurs when Cervical  Cancer diagnosis is delayed. 

The HSE website advices seeing your GP if you have symptoms. Cervical Cancer is often silent and may not present symptoms, which is why regular screening is imperative. 

In 80% of cases Coronavirus is a mild illness. The HSE website advises that screening will recommence when safe to do so. How can it be safe not to recommence screening? Cancer is never mild and it will not wait.

With the current transmission rates of the virus, there is no reason why, with professional and safe conduct that Cervical Pap Smear testing, public and private, could not be performed in the community once more.

Other essential services, such as infant vaccinations have continued safely through the duration of the Coronavirus crisis, therefore cancer screening should be able to continue safely. 

With regard to laboratory capacity to test, where is the sense in pausing health screening to give preference to one health crisis over another? 

Minister Harris and The Department of Health, you are implored to reinstate Cervical Pap Smear testing immediately.