A mum is suffering mental torment after waiting almost a year for a test to see if she has cancer. The woman, who asked not to be identified, had a smear test in February last year which showed she had abnormal cells.
But she has waited ever since for a follow-up appointment for a colposcopy – a test to take a closer look at the cervix – to see if there are signs of cancer. Almost a year on, the mother of two teenagers says she cannot sleep properly because she is so worried.
Labour health spokeswoman, Jackie Baillie last night blasted the Scottish Government for failing women as waits for colposcopies in Scotland’s largest health board area soar.
An FOI request by Baillie uncovered the average wait for a colposcopy in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is 19-and-a-half weeks. The target time is six weeks. The longest recorded wait is 48 weeks.
Speaking during Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, Baillie said: “Patients are facing a postcode lottery for treatment depending on where in Scotland they stay. In comparison, in neighbouring Lanarkshire, over the past six months, no one has had to wait more than 10 weeks for a colposcopy. This is an appalling state of affairs. The SNP Government are failing women.”
Last night, the woman, a constituent of Baillie’s, said: “I had been going to the doctor’s for about six months prior to the smear test because I was having unusual bloating to my stomach and backache.”
She was sent for an ultrasound of her ovaries but it came back clear. Her smear test was done in February 2022. She did not get the results until May when medics told her she had tested positive for HPV (human papilloma virus) and there were abnormal cervical changes.
She was told she would have a colposcopy within six weeks but then received a letter informing her it could up to 30 weeks because of the Covid backlog. Baillie later took up her case. The mum was given an appointment for December 23. However, it was cancelled because the doctor was sick.
Another appointment came for January 30. A letter to Baillie, from Health Secretary Humza Yousaf, wished the woman “the best for her appointment on January 30”. But 10 days ago, that too was cancelled – with the second consultant also off sick.
On Thursday, the woman got a phone call asking her to go for her colposcopy with a third consultant after a cancellation. She said: “I’ll believe it when it actually goes ahead.”
A spokesman for NHSGGC apologised for distress to women waiting for the test and said locums were being taken on to cope with the backlog. He added: “Urgent cases continue to be prioritised, with urgent assessments completed within 4-5 weeks.”
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