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WQ.272/2022
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY C.S. ALVES OF ST. HELIER CENTRAL
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 7th NOVEMBER 2022
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 14th NOVEMBER 2022
Question
“Will the Minister advise what the current average processing time is for the results of tests undertaken at the sexual health (GUM (genitourinary medicine)) clinic; and will she provide the average waiting time for results per month since January 2019?”
Answer
Unfortunately, we do not currently hold the data with which to provide the average processing times for the results of tests undertaken at the GUM clinic. Furthermore, nor can any of the data that we do hold be interpreted in such a way so as to allow for manual retrieval of the information.
However, below is a description of the current turnaround time:
- Symptomatic patients are seen the same or the following day – samples are taken and depending on the situation patients are treated syndromically at the time.
- Asymptomatic patients are seen in same day appointments on Mon/Wed/Fri. Patients can attend the clinic between 08:00-09:00 on a first-come first-served basis. When the clinics are full patients are advised to return on the next available clinic.
- The interval between the taking of a GUM sample to a patient being informed of their result and treated is –
• If the samples test positive for an STI), the results are communicated less than 1 week from sampling. Time from patient notification of their result to treatment is 1- 2 days.
• If the samples test positive for an STI result and needs referral to the UK for further analysis, then the result can be received within < 2weeks. Time from patient notification of their result to treatment is 1- 2 days.
• Negative results are texted to the patient within 4-5 weeks - all patients are told if they do not receive correspondence from the GUM clinic within10 days, they can assume they do not have an STI until such time that they receive their results. *
* In 2019, symptomatic patients and positive STI results had a similar turnaround time to the above but negative results were communicated to patients within 2 weeks. Circa mid-2021, the number and complexity of cases has increased explaining the increased time in communicating negative results.