Postcode lottery over smear tests

Waiting times for results of cervical smear tests vary

Statistics have revealed a postcode lottery of waiting times for smear tests, with some women having to wait far longer to find out their results.

NHS laboratories in Grampian took an average of 45 days to process a smear test, while Forth Valley took 30 days.

The average waiting time across Scotland was found to be 18 days.

The Scottish Executive has blamed the delays in Grampian and Forth Valley on staff shortages and training for a new testing system.

New method introduced

The technology should cut the number of satisfactory smears and reduce the need for repeat smears.

A spokeswoman for the executive said: "The roll-out of training across Scotland is now under way and should be completed by spring 2004."

She said the new testing system was now in place in Forth Valley, Lanarkshire and Tayside.

But she added: "Until the end of the year we won't really see significant improvements in times because of the impact of staff training and the introduction of the new method."

According to the official statistics, 108,427 smears were processed for the quarter ending 30 September compared with 111,015 in the previous quarter.

The average reporting time for laboratories overall was 18 days compared with 19 days for the quarter ending 30 June, 2003.

The percentage of smears reported as being unsatisfactory was 4.3% compared with 6.2% in the previous quarter reflecting the increased use of liquid-based cytology in Scotland.

The percentage of satisfactory smears reported as negative was 93.1%, which is similar to figures in previous quarters.