Press release: Waiting times for colposcopy appointments

Central Scotland MSP Monica Lennon has called for urgent action from the Scottish Government after a Freedom of Information request showed an increase in the wait for colposcopy appointments in Lanarkshire.

The average wait for a colposcopy, a follow-up procedure following abnormal cells being found during routine smear tests, in the NHS Lanarkshire health board area was 39 days in 2021 – up 10 days from 2018.

In 2018, the longest wait was 101 days – however, this had risen to 212 days in 2021.

Monica, Scottish Labour and Co-operative representative, said: “Women in Lanarkshire should not be left in emotional limbo worrying about the potential consequences of changes to cervical cells, and it is unacceptable that waiting times for appointments that could give them peace of mind appear to be getting longer and longer.

“That one woman waited over seven months for a much-needed colposcopy appointment is shocking.

“When women are, rightly, being encouraged to attend cervical smear appointments, the Scottish Government must be doing everything it can to reduce their distress if follow-up appointments are required, and that certainly isn’t the case at the moment.”

ENDS



Notes to Editors –

Figures for NHS Lanarkshire, as obtained via an FOI:



NHS Lanarkshire

Average waits: 2018 – 29, 2019 – 27, 2020 – 27, 2021 – 39.

Longest waits: 2018 – 101, 2019 – 83, 2020 – 176, 2021 – 212.