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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Nov 1998

Vol. 496 No. 3

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

270 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of women in each of the health board areas awaiting mammogram service in their local health board area. [22577/98]

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

271 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children the percentage of the 1,700 women awaiting mammograms in the Dublin area from Dublin and the percentage of referrals from outside the Dublin area. [22578/98]

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

272 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will outline by hospital the average and the longest waiting time in relation to the 1,700 women awaiting breast cancer screening in the Dublin area. [22579/98]

Dan Neville

Question:

299 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of women awaiting mammograms in the Mid-Western Health Board region. [22845/98]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 270, 271, 272 and 299 together.

The number of women in each of the health board areas awaiting a mammogram service in their local health board area is set out in the following table.

Health Board

Numbers Waiting

Eastern

1,719

Midland

80

Mid-Western

335

North-Eastern

174

North-Western

90

South-Eastern

0*

Southern

1,216

Western

120

Total

3,734

* No formal waiting list maintained; current schedule of appointments is booked until January. Emergency cases are seen immediately.
My Department does not collect information regarding the place of residence of persons on hospital waiting lists. It would not therefore be possible to give the Deputy a breakdown of the number of women awaiting mammograms in the Dublin area who reside in other health board regions.
The information requested by the Deputy regarding average waiting times for breast cancer screening in the Dublin area is set out in the following table.

Agency

Number

Urgent

Routine

St. Vincent's Hospital

777

Next clinic

7-8 weeks

Beaumont Hospital

70

Few days

7-8 weeks

Mater Hospital

675

Immediate

7-8 weeks

St. James's Hospital

180

1-2 weeks

6 weeks

Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin incorporating the National Children's Hospital

17

1 week

4-6 weeks

Total

1,719

There may be some instances where women are waiting somewhat longer than the average waiting time but the great majority of women are seen within the average stated. Where a woman is concerned at the length of time she has to wait for a mammogram, she can ask her general practitioner to discuss her case with a consultant radiologist, who decides upon the priority of cases.
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