I HATE SMEARS!!!!!!!

Smears. One of my new jobs. From the paperwork point of view only obviously, but man, it has to suck worse than actually taking them.

Step 1: Get back samples and cards from doctor. Write all patients into the Smear Book.
Step 2: Bring samples to drop off point.
Step 3: 5-6 months later (ridiculous I know!!) the results come back, some from the U.S because Ireland apparently has a terrible shortage of cytologists.
Step 4: Get out the "smear letters". Pull the patient charts for all result letters. Check D.O.B name etc. against result letters. Get out smear book, check patient details and mark them off. Fill in letter to patient, pin to chart.
Step 5: Send letters and charts in to doctor responsible for smear. Wait for them to sign the letters.
Step 6: Open computer (H1) file for each patient, make note that smear letter has been sent. Put letters into envelopes. Stamp, mark private and confidential, post.
Step 7: File charts. Scan results to patients H1 file.

THE END!!! And there are hundreds and hundreds of smear results!!! They come in all the time!!!! Ack. It just takes forever.

Being the wrong age, I have never actually had a smear myself.

Oh, and in case you are wondering, quite a lot of results do come back with mild abnormalities, so I guess screening is important.