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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

smear test rant

30 replies

ambereeree · 19/12/2018 16:51

I waited 9 weeks to be told there weren't enough cells for testing. So annoyed. Can't believe the lab is taking so long to even look at the test. Considering most of us get anxious over these tests a long wait isn't really helping to encourage women in having the test.

OP posts:
Member984815 · 19/12/2018 17:47

There's a five month wait for results in Ireland at the minute because of the miss reading and misdiagnosing of women by American labs , it makes me so mad that you had to wait all that time and still got no actual result. Do you have to get it redone now ? Can you even get an appointment ?

Original poster
ambereeree · 19/12/2018 18:28

I've been told to wait for 3 months for cells to grow back. So i have to call the gp in January to book an appointment with the nurse.
5 months is an absolute disgrace. How is this even allowed?

OP posts:
Hopoindown31 · 19/12/2018 19:08

There are often big backlogs as they don't employ enough screeners. Budget cuts I'm afraid.

christmaschristmaschristmas · 19/12/2018 19:12

It must be an area thing, how unfair.

I had mine back within a fortnight recently.

Osirus · 19/12/2018 23:49

2 week wait in my area, apparently. If that’s the case I’ll get my results on Christmas Eve! I hope mine is ok as it was a rather painful experience this time around and don’t want to do it again!

GlitterStick · 19/12/2018 23:52

Agree with the poster saying must be an area thing.
Got mine back this week, only had it just under two weeks ago.

FinallyFree123456789 · 19/12/2018 23:55

There was a long delay to get mine back - around 7 weeks I think - which started the process and it ended up telling me I had stage 1 cervical cancer - it took another 2 months to get a surgery date.

Honestly - it's not great BUT I'm grateful we even have the NHS to screen us. If the wait is too long a private test is around £70.
I'm thankful my test came back - eventually - and saved my life 2bh.

Original poster
ambereeree · 20/12/2018 07:31

I had it done privately before. I joined a new surgery and the GP pushed me to have it done as part of a health check. I'm in herts...I'm sure london is a two week wait.

OP posts:
anniehm · 20/12/2018 07:57

My results took 2 weeks, within 6 I had surgery... Always been quick here

costacoffeecup · 20/12/2018 07:58

I just had a 13 week wait in Kent

OnlineAlienator · 20/12/2018 08:02

Try a HPV test? About £150 bought online, swab up your own chuff, send off and wait for results. It's a much better test, (the one you go for if the smear is inconclusive etc) and the results last much longer so no more smears. Although if they are like my local practise you will still be hassled to have a smear anyway because, y'know, The System must be obeyed.

FlamingJuno · 20/12/2018 08:03

I had mine last week and was told it's a six week wait for results.

Mari50 · 20/12/2018 08:08

I had my reminds through in September, I haven’t been able to schedule an appt with practice nurse yet as there’s no availability. Trying to organise an appt elsewhere is just as tricky. I’ll be 6 months overdue when I finally get it sorted. Annoyingly the practice sent me another reminder!

DoingMyBest2010 · 20/12/2018 08:12

where I live (continent) you no longer get standard smears, it's now all HPV tests, you get your letter to say it's that time again and then you can ask them to send a pack to your home (it's free) and you take your own swab and send it off, or have it done at your surgery. Results are back very quickly.

TeddybearBaby · 20/12/2018 08:12

Mine said it would be a 10 week wait, south east. So pleased you’re ok now @FinallyFree123456789. My sister had a similar experience by the sound of it. She had a hysterectomy x

donajimena · 20/12/2018 08:13

online I recently had a smear and instead of coming back normal (or not) I was surprised to get a result saying I was HPV negative. I think my health board is trialling this new way of screening.
OP if funds allow I would definitely recommend this test.

Elephantina · 20/12/2018 08:16

I had one last week, they told me they had to have tested within 2 weeks to meet NHS requirements or something?

Moretinsel · 20/12/2018 08:16

Yea I had a long wait. I heard it was because of the change to a new test, so many staff won’t be needed so they’ve gone to other jobs and there’s not enough staff left to process the current smears.

WidowTwonky · 20/12/2018 08:18

donaj me too. Negative for HPV so no further testing required on the swab

OnlineAlienator · 20/12/2018 08:19

Oooh, does this mean uk nhs is finally ditching medieval smears and going hpv!? Long overdue

mustnotbeapessimist · 20/12/2018 08:19

Amber you don't have to wait 3 months from now you know, it's 3 months since the original test date so I'd get re-booked in for then.

Original poster
ambereeree · 20/12/2018 08:34

I think i missed the change over date. I had my test in october and they started the hpv test in November. Apparently it will make the process quicker.

OP posts:
donajimena · 20/12/2018 08:56

Yes I had my results in one week. I'm astounded it was HPV negative (I'm oldish) I thought it was pretty much a given if you have had unprotected sex.

Lost5stone · 20/12/2018 08:59

Six week wait in my area, then like you told it needs to be redone. Annoying but one of those things I think, budget cuts and all.

GinIsIn · 20/12/2018 09:01

Mine was “slightly abnormal”. In Scotland they retest 6 months later for that. Here in England, it’s ‘wait another 3 years and hope you don’t have cancer’.