Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 219: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to extend a service (details supplied). [26109/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The expert advice from BreastCheck and from the National Cancer Forum, as contained in the National Strategy for Cancer Control, is that following the national roll out of the programme to women between the ages of 50 and 64 years, the upper age limit should be extended to women aged 69 years. The priority of BreastCheck is to screen women who have not yet been screened and accordingly it is fully focussed at present on the completion of the first round of screening in the West and South.

I will consider extending the age limit as recommended when the national roll-out of the programme is sufficiently developed and it is assured that a quality service is being delivered. Any woman irrespective of her age who has immediate concerns or symptoms should contact her GP who, where appropriate, will refer her to the symptomatic services in her area.