Cervical screening: More than 300 smear tests to be checked as a priority

It is estimated that 4,000 women will be recalled for new smears after all the tests in the major review are re-checked

More than 300 smear slides have been sent to a local health trust for screening as a matter of priority, BBC News NI understands.

The slides were prioritised as part of a major review into cervical screening at the Southern Health Trust.

The Western Trust is reviewing this first batch of about 350 slides but has yet to start, it is understood.

The review, which was to get under way at the start of November, is checking about 17,500 patients' smear tests.

It was delayed after the Belfast Trust, which was to check all the slides, had it cervical cytology service accreditation suspended.

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It is appealing the decision.

It is estimated that 4,000 women will be recalled for new smears after all the tests are checked again.

Precautionary measure

In a statement the Southern Trust said: "A number of slides have been transferred from the Southern Trust to an accredited trust laboratory in Northern Ireland.

"It is anticipated that these slides will begin to be reviewed within days once final procedures have been agreed with the receiving trust."

The statement added that the slide review is a precautionary measure to provide confirmation that women have been given the correct result of their smear screening test.