Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 2

Written Answers. - Mammography Screening.

Helen Keogh

Question:

38 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for mammography screening in Dublin acute hospitals; the current numbers on the waiting list; the reason for the delay in commencing the new national breast screening programme at the Mater Hospital in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20462/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): At present in Ireland, mammography is used mainly as a diagnostic tool for symptomatic or worried women on referral from their general practitioners. Diagnostic mammography services are currently provided at 19 centres throughout the country.

The current number of patients waiting for mammography in each of the Dublin diagnostic centres is provided on the schedule below. The schedule also shows the waiting times for urgent and routine referrals.

Dublin Diagnostic Mammography Units.

Hospital	Numbers Waiting	Waiting time Urgent	Waiting time Routine
Adelaide	200	Immediately	4 weeks
Beaumont	34	Immediately	2/3 weeks
Mater	340	Immediately	3 weeks
St. James's	0	Immediately	1 week
St. Vincent's	124	Immediately	3 weeks

A national breast screening programme is one of the initiatives which forms part of the national cancer strategy. Expert advice is that a carefully organised, quality screening programme targeted at women in the 50 to 64 age group can reduce mortality from breast cancer. Arising from the evaluation of a pilot screening programme run by the Mater Foundation I announced that an expanded programme would commence as soon as possible. Phase 1 of the programme will cover the Eastern, Midland and North-Eastern Health Board areas, representing half of the country's population.

A major factor affecting the success of a screening programme is the establishment of a population register. Expert advice and experience from international mammography screening programmes indicate that at least 75 per cent of the target population must participate in screening if the programme is to reduce mortality significantly. To achieve this, a national screening register is necessary so that women in the target age group can be contacted and offered screening. This register would contain accurate details of names, current addresses and ages of women in the target population. I am committed to making the necessary arrangements for establishing such a register. However, there are important data protection issues to be resolved and, in order to meet these, appropriate legislation will be introduced as a matter of priority.