Vol. 562 No. 4
351 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans in relation to extending breast cancer screening nationwide; if he will consider extending it to include women over 64 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6582/03]
BreastCheck, the national breast screening programme, commenced in March 2000 with its phase one covering the Eastern Regional Health Authority, Midland Health Board and North-Eastern Health Board areas. Screening is being offered free of charge to all women in those areas in the target age group 50 to 64 years of age. The target population consists of approximately 136,000 women and represents about 50% of the national target population. By end December 2002, 110,636 women had been called for screening and 83,000 women had been screened. This represents an uptake of 75%.
Recently I announced the extension of BreastCheck to three more counties. I am committed to its extension. Approximately 19,000 women in the 50-64 age bracket in counties Wexford, Kilkenny and Carlow will be invited for screening. Approximately 9,500 per annum will be invited once the programme is fully operational in these counties. It is expected that approximately 60 additional cancers will be diagnosed and treated annually.
In relation to the further expansion of the programme, the board of BreastCheck has submitted a business plan to my Department. Two static units are proposed in host hospitals, one in Cork and the other in Galway, at which breast surgery would be performed for women in the south, west, mid-west and north-west.
A number of key issues have been raised by health boards and health professionals in relation to the national roll out of BreastCheck which need to be addressed in advance of further expansion. I will meet BreastCheck shortly to discuss these issues.
