Jim Higgins
Question:185 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will approve an immediate breast screening programme for the Western Health Board area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12906/98]
Written Answers. - Breast Screening Programme.
In March 1997 the then Minister announced the introduction of a major action plan to implement the proposals contained in the national cancer strategy. Included in the plan were proposals for the introduction on a phased basis of a national breast screening programme for women aged 50-64. Phase I will cover the Eastern, North Eastern and Midland Health Board areas and will target 120,000 women in the age cohort 50 to 64, which represents approximately 50 per cent of the national target population.
The decision to proceed on a phased basis is a reflection of the complexities involved in the screening process and the importance of ensuring that the Irish programme meets the necessary quality assurance criteria. As Minister for Health and Children, I am very much aware of the unnecessary trauma and anguish that could be caused to women and their families as a result of mistakes in an organised screening programme. It is for this reason that the Irish national breast screening programme must be driven by international quality assurance standards and best practice.
Specifically the phasing will take account of the following critical success factors: 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.
Taking into account the lead-in time involved in the development of IT systems, the establishment of a population register and the recruitment of consultant and support staff, I am advised that we should be in a position to start the programme by autumn 1998. I am committed to making the necessary resources available to the programme to facilitate the commencement of screening and substantial funding has already been made available in 1998 to meet the start up costs for the programme.
Decisions taken in relation to subsequent phases, including the Western Health Board area, will be guided by the experience gained from putting phase I of the programme in place. The steering committee has recommended that phase II of the programme should follow phase I as soon as is practicable.