IMO reaches agreement with Department of Health for additional resources to respond to Cervical Check controversy
Additional resources will enable GPs to undertake consultations and repeat smears.
Friday 4th May 2018. The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has reached agreement with the Department of Health and the HSE on the operational and resource requirements needed to deal with the fall out from the Cervical Cancer controversy and the arrangements for repeat smears for patients where required which were announced by the Minister for Health last week.
Speaking this evening, Dr Padraig McGarry welcomed the agreement. He said “This is a very painful, worrying and difficult time for many women throughout the country. We were determined to ensure that the Government committed sufficient resources to enable GPs to spend time with those patients who have concerns about this whole issue and to undertake repeat smears where a patient requires one.
Dr. McGarry continued; “It was important for our patients and GPs to know that the required resources were in place to allow this programme to be delivered. While there is an ongoing capacity issue in General Practice GPs will do their best to facilitate women in this process over the coming months.”
The resources allocated by the Minister for Health provide for repeat smears to take place at the existing rate of €49.10 and a consultation at a rate of €50.