Labour pledges speedier smear test results
Labour has announced plans to provide cervical screening test results within seven working days.
With the party continuing to focus on health, Dr John Reid revealed that if re-elected a Labour Government would use new technology to reduce the time it takes to process smear test results to a maximum of seven days, rather than the seven weeks that it can take at present.
New hospital laboratories, and technology called Liquid Based Cytology would be put in place by 2008, the party said.
Labour’s Health Secretary Dr John Reid said: “Getting test results in a week will reduce worry for the vast majority of women who get the all clear and ensures speedy access to treatment for those who need it.”
Women will be given the opportunity to access results by email, text or telephone as well as getting their results in writing.
Dr Reid continued: “Speeding up test results through investing in the latest technology, new hospital labs and staff training is just one way Labour will ensure all NHS patients are treated within 18 weeks maximum with no hidden waits, from the seeing the family doctor to having an operation or starting treatment.
The Health Secretary also had a dig at the Conservatives, saying: “The Tories in contrast pledge to abolish any initiatives to speed up patient treatment, their health policy is to divert £1.2 billion from the NHS to subsidise the wealthy few who already pay to go private.”
But Conservative Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley hit back, accusing John Reid of “resorting to nothing more than lies and abuse about the Conservative Party.”
He continued: “We are committed to improving the NHS. We will make the changes and introduce the reforms which Labour have failed to do. We will give the NHS frontline staff and resources and we will introduce the new technologies which are available to decrease the wait for results.
“Labour are rattled by polls that show that they can no longer take for granted that the public believe their health policies will work.”
