Written answers
Tuesday, 27 February 2024
Department of Health
Cancer Services
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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603. To ask the Minister for Health the number of individuals who received an invitation to take part in BowelScreen on a quarterly basis from quarter 1 2016 to the end of 2023; and the absolute number and percentage of individuals who accepted an invitation and subsequently attended a screening appointment in each of the specified months, in tabular form. [9225/24]
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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604. To ask the Minister for Health the number of individuals who received an invitation to take part in CervicalCheck on a quarterly basis from quarter 1 2016 to the end of 2023; and the absolute number and percentage of individuals who accepted an invitation and subsequently attended a screening appointment in each of the specified months, in tabular form. [9226/24]
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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605. To ask the Minister for Health the number of individuals who received an invitation to take part in BreastCheck on a quarterly basis from quarter 1 2016 to the end of 2023; and the absolute number and percentage of individuals who accepted an invitation and subsequently attended a screening appointment in each of the specified months, in tabular form. [9227/24]
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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606. To ask the Minister for Health the reasons the BowelScreen programme has yet to be expanded to all people aged 55 to 74 years; the measures taken to date to expand the screening age; and the timeframe by which the programme will be expanded to these age groups. [9228/24]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I am fully committed to supporting our population screening programmes, which are a valuable part of our health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people, and improving the overall health of our population.
Any decisions about further changes or expansion of our screening programmes, will be made on the advice of the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC). This independent expert group considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important that we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
The Programme for Government commits to expanding the age range for BowelScreen to those aged 55 to 74. Progress continues to be made in this regard, with the HSE offering screening to people aged 59 since October 2023, bringing the age range for bowel screening to 59 to 69. BowelScreen plans to next offer screening to people aged 70. However, further extending the age range eligibility for BowelScreen will need to give due consideration to balanced capacity in endoscopy facilities.
I would stress to the Deputy that careful consideration must be given to any proposed expansion of Ireland’s screening programmes and that this process must be afforded the necessary amount of time to complete. In this regard, I am pleased to report that NSAC is already progressing work to consider the further expansion of our cancer screening programmes and has asked HIQA to evaluate the evidence for the further expansion of the age range eligibility for the BowelScreen programme.
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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607. To ask the Minister for Health the total number of people who received a diagnosis of breast cancer on a national basis after referral to the "urgent" symptomatic breast disease clinic cancer in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [9229/24]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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608. To ask the Minister for Health the total number of people who received a diagnosis of breast cancer on a national basis after referral to the "non-urgent" symptomatic breast disease clinic cancer in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [9230/24]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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609. To ask the Minister for Health the total number of people who received a diagnosis of lung cancer on a national basis after referral to the lung rapid access clinic cancer in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [9231/24]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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610. To ask the Minister for Health the total number of people who received a diagnosis of prostate cancer on a national basis after referral to the prostate rapid access clinic cancer in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [9232/24]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
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