Written answers

Tuesday, 18 May 2004

Department of Health and Children

Cancer Screening Programme

9:00 pm

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 344: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the start-up date for the long awaited BreastCheck for the Munster area can be expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14577/04]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The national roll-out of BreastCheck requires detailed planning to include essential infrastructure. The BreastCheck clinical unit in the southern area will be at the South Infirmary and Victoria Hospital in Cork, with three associated mobile units. The area of coverage will be counties Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Limerick and south Tipperary. The South Infirmary and Victoria Hospital considered it necessary to commission a site strategy study to ensure the integration of the breast screening services in the present and future development of the hospital. The Department of Health and Children made available a capital grant of €230,000 for the study to be undertaken by professional architectural, engineering and quantity surveying experts. The study, which has been completed, was submitted to my Department at the end of March. A detailed brief is being prepared by BreastCheck and the hospital. The project is being considered by my Department in the context of the framework for capital investment 2004-08.

An essential element of the roll-out of the programme is investment in education and training of radiographers. BreastCheck employs qualified and experienced radiographers who have specialised postgraduate training and qualifications related to mammography. BreastCheck and the symptomatic breast cancer services have a significant ongoing recruitment and training requirement in this area. I announced last year the development of a training centre for radiographers and mammography at Eccles Street which will become the national training centre in breast imaging. Resources are being made available to BreastCheck to support the initiative, which will cost in excess of €750,000. Design specification work has been undertaken, the core elements of the training programme are being addressed and the recruitment process for a course leader has been initiated.

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