An MLA has called for "urgent progress" to be made to cervical cancer screenings in Northern Ireland.
Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin has said HPV screening should be adopted here as the primary screening test, as recommended by the NI Cervical Screening Programme.
Women in Northern Ireland are still tested using a different method called cytology, which examines the cells under a microscope, and is less sensitive than HPV screening.
Read more: Ardoyne community worker on why local GP surgery needs to stay
The differences in testing mean Northern Ireland's cervical cancer screening programmes continue to lag behind the rest of the UK.
In a statement to BBC News NI, the Public Health Agency said the introduction of HPV testing was included in the regional cancer strategy, however, its full implementation is "dependent upon future funding decisions".
The Department of Health has committed to moving to this testing method, but there is a question over what happens next without an executive and guaranteed funding in place.
Ms McLaughlin said she has written to the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health to ask what progress can be made in the absence of an Executive.
She added: "It is clear that we need to see urgent progress on introducing HPV screening for cervical cancer. Women in Northern Ireland continue to be left behind by the outdated measures that we are using and by the failure to form an Executive which is hindering the ability to advance this measure.
"Cervical screening saves at least 2,000 lives a year and the introduction of HPV screening was included as an action in the Cancer Strategy back in March, yet we have seen no progress to date.
"The lack of an agreed budget is costing potentially life-saving progress on this important issue that affects so many women across the North. I find it simply scandalous that we have no Ministers in place when our devolved administration could make life-saving interventions to help women and girls.
"Anyone who says that an Executive could not make a difference to the everyday lives of our constituents should take a look at issues like this where we know what needs to be done, yet the ongoing paralysis at Stormont is tying the hands of elected representatives.
"I have written to the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health to ask whether there are any steps that the department can take in the absence of Ministerial responsibility to progress the introduction of this testing.
"This is just one of the many issues that specifically affect women and is another reason why I continue to push for a Women’s Health Strategy in Northern Ireland.”
READ NEXT:
- 'I was fainting in pain': NI woman on ulcerative colitis diagnosis
- Health officials 'hopeful' that new GPs will be found to take over NI surgeries
- Covid restrictions removed for NI hospital visitors
- Mass protest called over threats to SWAH emergency surgery
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
