Frances Fitzgerald
Question:174 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the progress in establishing a breast cancer screening service in the Dublin area; and the progress of this scheme. [14542/99]
Written Answers. - Cancer Screening Programme.
In March 1997, my predecessor gave the go ahead for the introduction of phase 1 of the national breast screening programme for the target population of women aged 50-64, in the Eastern, North-Eastern and Midland Health Board areas. There will be two central units located at St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, and at the Mater Hospital, Dublin, where the screening, assessment and treatment of women will be carried out using a multi-disciplinary approach. In addition, the use of mobile units by BreastCheck, the National Breast Screening Board, will ensure that the screening service is accessible to all women in the target age group in these areas.
In March 1999, I announced that phase 1 of the national breast screening programme would commence in October 1999. A key element in meeting this target date was the provision of appropriate physical facilities for the screening programme. My Department has now approved the acceptance of tenders in relation to the development of the Eccles unit at the Mater Hospital where refurbishment work can commence immediately.
In addition, the planning for the development of the Merrion unit at St. Vincent's Hospital is at an advanced stage and I expect to be in a position shortly to approve the acceptance of tenders in this regard. It is planned that the necessary works for both units will be completed to facilitate the commencement of screening in October 1999.
My intention is to provide a top quality service which meets best international standards. I am satisfied that the careful planning and deliberation by the national breast screening committee over the past two years in relation to all aspects of the programme will ensure that we can offer a service which is underpinned by standards of excellence and one which will ultimately pay dividends in terms of reductions in mortality among women in the target population.
Frances Fitzgerald
Question:175 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children the situation regarding the breast cancer care clinic in St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin 4; if it is possible that patients attending from outside Dublin will have services developed in their own area in the near future; if he will make a statement on the current waiting times in that clinic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14543/99]
The current situation at St. Vincent's Hospital regarding women seeking screening and routine mammography is that when a request is received the X-ray department write to both the patient and their general practitioner informing them that all appointments for mammograms are filled by patients with symptomatic breast disease or with a high risk of developing breast cancer. If a patient is concerned with regard to the length of waiting times they are advised to contact their general practitioner who will then discuss their case with the relevant consultant radiologist at the hospital.
I have been informed by the hospital authorities that at present waiting times for routine new appointments at the clinic are approximately four weeks. However, cases classified as urgent are seen at the next clinic in that week. Due to the introduction last year of a computerised appointments system at the breast clinic all patients receive appointment times. While up to 200 patients attended the Friday clinic at the hospital last year, this number has been reduced this year to 160 patients. The average waiting time for patients presenting at the clinic would be approximately one hour, although this can increase depending on the length of consultation time needed to satisfactorily deal with each patient. In addition, the hospital also has a registrar, specialising in breast diseases, in place who carries out a number of clinics on a pilot basis during the week.
The existing breast clinic at St. Vincent's is due to be upgraded as part of phase 1 of a major capital development programme approved for the hospital. Planning work on this development is now at an advanced stage.
My Department is very conscious of the importance of early access to symptomatic mammography services and of the provision of an equivalent standard of excellence in both symptomatic and screening mammography services. For this reason, I have requested the National Cancer Forum to undertake a review of symptomatic breast cancer services at national level prior to the commencement of phase I of the national breast screening programme and to report back to my Department as soon as possible in the matter.
In tandem with this, my Department recently raised the issue of mammography referral practices with the health boards. The Department's key concern is to ensure that all women, irrespective of age or where they live, have timely access to symptomatic services. A critical factor in this regard is referral by GPs to local diagnostic mammography services in the first instance. This should result in a reduction in average waiting times at all mammographic units, thereby improving access for women and at the same time ensuring that expertise levels are maintained and developed in diagnostic units around the country.