A Dumbarton woman says she’s been told she could have to wait up to seven months for a vital test after a routine smear exam found abnormal cells.
The woman, in her 50s, was initially told that she would have to wait for up to eight weeks for a slot for the follow-up appointment but she has now been informed this could take up to 30 weeks.
The mum of two, who asked not to be identified, was told on Christmas Eve that her latest smear had discovered abnormal cells and would require a colposcopy.
The woman, who contacted Jackie Baillie MSP over her concerns, said: “Everybody is trying to encourage women to go and get their smear tests and then this is happening.
“I have to sit and worry until they decide I am going to get an appointment.
“I don’t keep the best of health and this is just exacerbating the problem.
“Living with the unknown for that amount of time. It’s worrying.
“How many more women are sitting waiting?”
Cervical screening was paused during the early stages of the pandemic in spring and summer 2020 as pressure mounted on the NHS to deal with Covid patients.
Ms Baillie told the Lennox Herald: “We all know how important it is to attend for smear tests but to find out that the wait for a follow-up appointment could take seven months is extremely concerning.
“Even the letter which was sent to my constituent seems to contradict itself by saying the waits are up to 30 weeks but that additional clinics are being put on. It is unclear and is causing people to panic.
“More focus has to be given to getting our NHS back on track following the huge disruption caused by the Covid pandemic.”
A spokesman from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said efforts were being made to increase clinic capacity, reduce waiting times and support patients to be seen as quickly as possible.
He commented: “We very much regret that we have longer than usual waiting times as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We understand why this patient may be anxious, and we continue to ensure all urgent colposcopy referrals, where there is an urgent suspicion of cancer, are seen within the waiting time guarantee of two weeks.
“The service has been running with reduced capacity due to social distancing regulations.
“This has unfortunately meant that waiting times for routine referrals have increased.”
