Queensland Health glitch means 1000 women not warned of abnormal pap smear results

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ALMOST 1000 Queensland women who recorded abnormal pap smears did not receive follow-up letters telling them to undergo additional testing, under a health system glitch revealed yesterday.

The error was revealed by the state’s chief health officer, who said the decision affected 980 Queensland women dating back as far as 2006.

The 980 women had undergone pap smears in which a low-grade abnormality — a change in cells — was recorded.

The majority of women who record a minor abnormality have no ongoing adverse health issues, however in rare, serious cases they can be an indicator of human papillomavirus which can lead to cervical cancer.

The 980 women were meant to be sent a reminder telling them to come back for another test following their abnormal result, however Queensland Health’s Pap Smear Register failed to send those letters. This means women may have missed check-up appointments.

Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said the Pap Smear Register was a back-up system and women may have been notified by their GPs. She said women followed up to date by the department had in most cases undergone a follow-up pap smear, despite the lack of a reminder.

“GPs and other pap smear providers have primary responsibility for following up with their patient, as they are advised directly by pathology companies of the outcome of their patient’s results,” she said.

“We are working with them to make sure these women have been followed-up and to keep the Pap Smear Register up to date.

“All women affected by the issue will be contacted by Queensland Health, so if you do not receive a letter there is no need for you to do anything other than to continue your normal screening regime.”

Australian Medical Association state president Dr Shaun Rudd said patients who recorded a low level abnormality on their pap smear were usually contacted by their GP.

“If it was a really bad result, there is no question that the GP would have contacted the woman,’’ he said.

“Whenever you get a result that is not a good result you make every effort to find the woman and follow them up and make sure something is done.’’

The Health Department has followed up with half of the women involved already, with the others to be contacted in coming days.

The error was identified when a client mentioned she had not received a backup letter after an abnormal result. External consultants have been brought in to do an assessment of the register.

External consultants have been brought in after Queensland Health failed to notify almost a thousand women of abnormal pap smear results.

Source: Courier Mail