Cervical screening: Belfast Health Trust working closely with PHA after cancer testing review delay

Smear tests, or cervical screening, checks the health of the cervix

The Belfast Health Trust has said it is working closely with the Public Health Agency (PHA) to ensure the work of its cervical cytology service is of appropriate standard.

On Thursday, a major review of cervical screening was suspended.

It came after the Belfast Trust had its cervical cytology service accreditation suspended by accreditation body UKAS.

The PHA is closely monitoring the laboratory's statistics and processes, according to the trust.

On that basis, it can continue to operate as normal.

In a statement, the Belfast Trust said it planned to appeal the decision.  

Major screening review

The move has delayed the start of a major review of cervical screening in Northern Ireland which was due to start this week.

Last month, it emerged smear tests of more than 17,000 women in the Southern Trust would be re-checked as part of the review dating back to 2008.

The Belfast Trust was due to facilitate the review which then had to be delayed after an unannounced inspection by UKAS on Tuesday cited several problems.

It is not clear when the review will start and who will be involved in reviewing the slides and, where appropriate, recalling patients for a new test.

UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) confirmed to BBC News NI that accreditation for cervical cytology within the Belfast Trust had been removed on 31 October.

The same measure had been applied to the Southern Trust, as reported by BBC News NI last month.

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In a statement, a spokesperson for the Belfast Trust said its accreditation had been suspended on two counts including "documentation not being in place which is being corrected as a matter of urgency".

The second related to a single statistic used to assess screener performance over several years.

The trust said it is "challenging the interpretation of this statistic as part of the appeal process".

The statement added that during the period in question, the laboratory had been assessed by UKAS on several occasions and no concern was raised by those assessments during that period.

The trust also said: "The PHA undertakes ongoing monitoring and quality review of all aspects of the work of the cervical cytology screening programme and based on this has been assured that the work of the cervical cytology service is to an appropriate standard."

What is cervical screening?

Cervical screening can not detect cancer, but detecting and treating abnormal cells may help prevent cancer. No screening process is 100% accurate.

The screening looks for the human papillomavirus (HPV) which can cause abnormal cells on the cervix. If HPV is detected a cytology test is used to check for any abnormal cells.

Unlike the rest of the UK and Ireland, Northern Ireland does not have the primary HPV screening system in full operation.

In Northern Ireland, the cervical screening process involves two people - a screener and checker analysing slides under a microscope.

UKAS is an independent body which assesses the competence of organisations that provide certification, testing, inspection and calibration services which meet internationally specified standards.    

While accreditation is not mandatory for laboratories to function, it is preferred as it offers reassurance to the public and is proof that the service is meeting all standards.

The Belfast Trust said the current lack of accreditation does not restrict the ability to practise and it is confident that its performance meets a safe standard as agreed by previous UKAS assessors.