Smear Tests: Cervical Cancer Screening: Free of Charge

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

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A decision made18 April 2018:

Decision Reference: MD-HSS-2018-0018
Decision Summary Title :	New arrangements for cervical cancer screening		Date of Decision Summary:	12 April 2018
Decision Summary Author:	Assistant Director – Policy, Communications and Ministerial Support		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:
Written Report Title :	New arrangements for cervical cancer screening		Date of Written Report:	6 April 2018
Written Report Author:	Assistant Director – Policy, Communications and Ministerial Support		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)Exempt	Public
Subject: Implement a new approach to cervical cancer screening, which makes it free of charge to the individual.
Decision(s) and reasons for the decision: Following a review by the department, the Minister for Health and Social Services decided to introduce a new approach to the provision of cervical screening services. By the end of 2018, the intention is to negotiate a contract with GPs which would allow women to receive a free smear test, either at their GP practice or at Le Bas centre. In the short term, the current fee of £16 for cervical screening applied by HSSD at Le Bas centre will be abolished from 1 June 2018.
Resource Implications: The estimated additional cost to HSSD of making cervical smears free at Le Bas centre is between £53,000 and £182,000 a year depending on take up. This will be funded non-recurrently through P82 monies, with a bid for recurrent funding submitted through MTFP3. Funding for the free screening planned for GP surgeries will be identified during 2018 in co-operation with the Minister for Social Security.
Action required: Moves to be put in place to give effect to the new approach to the provision of cervical screening services.
Signature:		Position: Minister for Health and Social Services
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):