Women claim their mental health 'on the ground' after cervical screening review in NI's southern trust
Over 17,000 women were part of a review dating back as far as 2008
Last updated 19th Dec 2024
A group of women in Northern Ireland's Southern Trust has told us about the emotional impact of a recent cervical screening review.
In October 2023 around 17,500 women were informed their smear tests would be re-checked, as part of a major review into cervical screening dating back as far as 2008.
Last week the major review found smear test accuracy concerns for some women later diagnosed with cervical cancer which had spread.
We spoke to some women from the campaign group Ladies with Letters, in the wake of the report.
Heather Thompson who co-runs the group said the ladies are 'disappointed and want answers,' in the form of a public inquiry.
"There's a lot of statistical information in the report but I still think that it should've been focused more on the ladies because the ladies are not statistics.
"These are people and their families and it's been a very stressful time the report coming out for the ladies."
72-year-old Joan Connolly was included in the review and is now one of the Ladies with Letters.
She says her mental health has been impacted by the review:
"Mentally I'm on the ground, I take it day by day, I live on my own so only for the ladies I don't know where I would be at this stage.
"It has turned my life upside down."
51-year-old Sharon Rooney wasn't part of the review but has now joined the group for emotional support after she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2022.
She told us about the emotional impact:
"People think cancer and it means death, it doesn't mean death for everyone and I am so lucky to sit here today and call myself a survivor but I am majorly impacted by what has happened to me."
The Southern Trust has repeatedly apologised and an independent review is now being carried out.
A Southern Trust spokesperson said, “We apologise again to women and their families for any distress caused by this Review process and the publication of the outcomes report. This was a comprehensive and very detailed review and extra care was taken to ensure these women’s results were correct."
"The Outcomes report shows that, for the vast majority of the women included in the review, their original result did not change. The review identified a very small number of women who are now receiving follow up care from our gynaecology services. The findings of the Cervical Cytology Review will now undergo independent expert review, with work on this to commence imminently."
"Cervical screening saves lives and it is essential that women continue to attend when they are invited.”