Written answers

Wednesday, 28 September 2005

Department of Health and Children

Cancer Screening Programme

9:00 pm

Photo of Brian O'SheaBrian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 328: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her proposals, pending the introduction of BreastCheck, to provide access for public patients from the HSE south eastern area to the mammography facilities at Barrington's Hospital, Limerick, on the basis that the required follow-up treatment can be provided at Waterford Regional Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24879/05]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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BreastCheck has considered a proposal from Barrington's Hospital in Limerick and has advised my Department that the implementation of the national breast screening programme is the best approach to ensuring that a quality assured service is available to all women in the target age group.

The national breast screening programme commenced in 2000 and covered the eastern, north-eastern and midland regions of the country. In 2003, the Minister for Health and Children announced the extension of the programme to part of the south eastern region to include counties Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford. Screening commenced in County Wexford in March last year and in County Carlow in April this year. BreastCheck expects to commence screening in County Kilkenny early in 2006. Women diagnosed with breast cancer under the BreastCheck programme in these counties are referred for primary treatment to the BreastCheck clinical units at St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin and the Mater Hospital, Dublin.

BreastCheck is preparing for the national expansion of the BreastCheck programme to the other regions in the country. This will include the remaining south eastern counties of Waterford and Tipperary south riding. The BreastCheck clinical centre that will provide services for women in these counties will be located at the South Infirmary-Victoria Hospital Cork. A design team has been appointed for the construction of this unit and BreastCheck is confident that the target date of 2007 for commencement of screening in the remaining regions will be met. Women diagnosed with breast cancer under the programme in these counties will be referred to the centre at Cork as soon as it is operational. Any woman who has concerns with regard to breast cancer should contact her general practitioner who will, where appropriate, refer her to the appropriate symptomatic services in her area.

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