Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 19 October 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

BreastCheck and National Cancer Control Programme: HSE
BreastCheck Screening Programme and Improving Outcomes for Breast Cancer: Discussion

Ms Fiona Murphy:

I might add a comment before Professor Hill comes in. With respect to screening services, Government funding last year allowed us to increase our mobile units by a further three, which represents more than a 10% increase in our mobile capacity. That included all the equipment that goes into the mobile units. We have a rolling capital plan. We plan five to seven years ahead to take account of what major equipment we might need in the future. That allowed us to increase the age range from 64 up to 69 during the last five or six years. As the Deputy rightly said, planning ahead for infrastructure is as big an element as planning for staffing. We need to have both. I agree completely with Professor Ó Laoide that theatre access is our endpoint. Therefore, we must make sure we have access before we start inviting more people for screening. It is all part of one long system. Each part of that system and pathway needs to be in place. I will pass over to Professor Hill.

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