The number of cervical cancer screenings is down by over 50% compared to last year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Screening services were paused in March due to the virus and resumed again in July.
CervicalCheck has told the Oireachtas Health Committee today that over 117,000 women in primary care had been screened up until the end of November.
The organisation's Clinical Director, Dr Noírín Russell, told committee members that this compared to around 46% of the women screened last year.
Dr Russell said extra capacity would have to be made available in cervical screening next year to deal with the backlog.
She was responding to Sinn Féin's David Cullinane, who wanted to know how long it would take the service to catch up with the screening that was missed due the pause in services.
Dr Russell told Deputy Cullinane that the pause that happened due to Covid-19 was permanent and it would not be possible to "catch up".
She said: "What catch up would mean is doing double the work and screening twice as many women in a month as we normally do.
"There is reduced capacity across all our screening programme and we are not going to be able suddenly double up."
Dr Russell also said that all women who are awaiting cervical screening will get an invite letter by the end of the year.
Despite Covid-19 pressures on lab supplies internationally, around 80% of result letters are being issued within 6 weeks, she said.
Clinical Director of CervicalCheck has told an Oireachtas committee that by the end of the year an invite letter will have been issued to everyone due for cervical screening this year. | Read more: https://t.co/B7zqeG80EP pic.twitter.com/dRMkOq7jxE
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) December 9, 2020
Dr Russell also pointed out that due to the typically slow progression of cervical cancer, the beneficial outcomes do not reduce if screening is delayed for six months.
The Irish Cancer Society warned that many cancer services are struggling to meet patient demand. The organisation has said that 9,000 people lost their lives to cancer this year.
Rachel Morrogh, Director of Advocacy and External Affairs, described the overwhelming fear and loneliness felt by people who have received life-changing news alone.
In her opening statement, she said that the performance of some cancer services is getting worse, not better, due to underfunding and an incomplete workforce.
Ms Morrogh said Covid-19 has had a devastating effect on a system that for many years had insufficient capacity.
She told committee members that until waiting lists are eradicated, patient care will be compromised.
She pointed that thousands of people are symptomatic and are waiting for a diagnosis but are unable to get access to a test to find out what is wrong.
The co-leader of the Social Democrats, Róisín Shortall, asked about staffing levels across cancer services.
She said additional funding was provided in the budget, but it was "infuriating and frustrating" when money is available but it is not possible to get the staff.
Director of the National Cancer Control Programme, Risteárd Ó Laoide ,said that within each of the programmes there is work ongoing on assessing staffing needs.
Deputy Shortall said action needs to be taken in relation to staff shortages across different areas. She also asked for an update in relation to the backlog in breast and bowel screening.
