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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Feb 1992

Vol. 415 No. 8

Written Answers. - Health Services for Women.

Michael Noonan

Question:

66 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Health the current numbers who are availing of, (1) the diagnostic mammography service and (2) the cervical screening service; if he has satisfied himself with the operation of the programmes and the uptake of them among the target population; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

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.

The Deputy will also be aware that a working party was established in 1988 to review the cervical smear testing service. This group produced a very constructive interim report, the main recommendations of which are: the provision of improved training for staff; reporting time to doctors and patients not to exceed one month; abnormal results to be followed up quickly by the referring doctor with laboratory assistance; common classification to be adopted; continued availability of the service through different outlets; and laboratory procedures to be computerised.
As part of the process of implementation of the report, it was circulated for comment to those organisations most closely involved in cervical smear testing services. There has been a considerable improvement in the reporting of results of cervical smear tests over the past few years and my Department continue to monitor the reporting of results to ensure that no undue delays occur.
The comments received and the evaluation of the implementation of the recommendations to date will form the main thrust of the work of the working party, which I am currently reconvening under the terms of theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress. This will also include consideration of the uptake of cervical smear testing by the target group. One of the major items to be included in the terms of reference of the reconvened committee will be a review of the operational efficiency of the test notification procedures.
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