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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 May 1997

Vol. 478 No. 7

Written Answers - National Cancer Strategy.

Helen Keogh

Question:

37 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to extend the breast screening programme to women over the age of 65 years in view of recent statistics detailing the spread of the disease among this age group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12131/97]

Limerick East): The Deputy will be aware that in October 1995 I gave the go-ahead to the establishment of a national screening programme for women aged 50-64. Since then work has been ongoing on the organisational structures and operational arrangements required to implement the phased expansion of the programme and on resolving the data protection issues surrounding the compilation of a population register.

I was pleased, therefore, to be in a position to announce on 4 March 1997 the introduction of a major action plan to implement the proposals contained in the National Cancer Strategy. The plan provides for the establishment of a national steering group to guide the implementation of the National Programme of Screening for Breast Cancer and the introduction of legislation to ensure the screening programme will comply with data protection requirements.

The first phase of the National Breast Screening Programme will cover the Eastern, North-Eastern and Midland Health Board areas. It will target 120,000 women in the 50-64 age group, which represents 50 per cent of the national target population. The target group selected represents those women at greatest risk of developing breast cancer and it is intended to provide a comprehensive screening service on a national basis to women in that age group over the next couple of years.

The decision to proceed on a phased basis is guided by the need for the achievement of acceptable compliance levels among the target population, ongoing evaluation of the programme from a quality assurance perspective and availability of the necessary clinical expertise to conduct the programme.

The valuable experience gained from the phased implementation of the programme will inform decisions about extending breast screening facilities to other groups of women, including decisions on the provision of screening facilities for other age cohorts. In the circumstances, I do not have any plans at this stage to extend the programme to women over the age of 65 years. The Department will, of course, continue to monitor international developments and research in relation to age as a factor in the targeting of groups for screening. In the meantime, diagnostic facilities are available to all women, on referral from their GPs. In this regard, the Deputy will wish to know that diagnostic mammographic facilities are provided at 19 centres throughout the country. Furthermore, I am confident that the investment in the infrastructure for the national screening programme will have the added benefit of improving the quality of diagnostic and treatment services for all women with breast disease.
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