Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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164. To ask the Minister for Health the waiting times for general practitioner referrals to each of the breast health clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40096/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme set up Symptomatic Breast Disease clinics at eight designated cancer centres with a satellite clinic of the Galway University Hospital service at Letterkenny University Hospital.

The national target for Symptomatic Breast Disease clinics is that 95% of all urgent referrals are offered an appointment within 10 working days of the date of receipt of a referral letter. In June, 79% of patients nationally were offered an appointment within this time frame. The performance at each of the 9 clinics in June was as follows:

In relation to the above table, the majority of patients triaged as urgent who were not seen within 2 weeks, were seen within 3 weeks.

A review of all Symptomatic Breast Disease Clinics and Rapid Access Clinics for lung cancer and prostate cancer has been completed by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme. Recommendations for hospitals and Hospital Groups to support sustainable improvement in the performance of clinics have been developed and implementation has commenced.

The National Cancer Control Programme will vigorously pursue the implementation of the recommendations in conjunction with the hospitals and Hospital Groups.