A diagnostic mammography service is available, on a referral basis, to women at a number of public hospitals throughout the country. The number of women who availed of a diagnostic mammography service in 1991 was 9,925.
My Department are supporting the Eccles breast screening programme currently under way at the Mater Foundation. This programme is part of a network of pilot schemes on breast cancer screening under way within the European Community. The screening phase of the pilot study will be completed in 1994. The study findings, including the uptake of the service by women in the target population, will be a major influence on any future decisions in relation to a national screening programme.
The number of cervical smears tested in public hospital laboratories for diagnostic and screening purposes in 1991 was 122,000 approximately.