Vol. 508 No. 2
19 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the waiting time for treatment at each mammography centre; the steps, if any, being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18248/99]
I am conscious of the need to have high quality diagnostic and symptomatic breast cancer services in this country. When Breast Check, the national breast screening programme was launched recently, I announced that I was commissioning a review of the diagnostic and symptomatic breast cancer services currently available throughout the country. I requested the National Cancer Forum to carry out the review with the following terms of reference: to assess the impact on the existing diagnostic services for benign and malignant breast disease in the light of the forthcoming national breast screening programme; the increase in the target population; the increased awareness of the importance of breast screening; and the current and evolving technologies in the area of breast screening.
The group are to make recommendations to me on the diagnostic services for symptomatic breast disease necessary to meet projected increased needs, the need to develop associated services, the resources required to develop these services and the principles that should underlie the organisation and delivery of diagnostic services to ensure equity of access to, and the highest quality in, the provision of diagnostic services for breast disease.
I understand that this review is now at an advanced stage. The National Cancer Forum expects to receive the report on the review at their December meeting. The forum will analyse the report and forward the necessary recommendations to me on the matter.
The mammography units and average waiting times for appointments in each unit are listed on the table which I will circulate in the Official Report.
|
Location of MammographyUnits |
Waiting Times |
|
Adelaide and Meath Hospitals, incorporating the National Children's Hospital, Tallaght |
Routine referrals – 7 monthsSymptomatic GP and consultant referrals – 7 to 10 days |
|
Beaumont Hospital |
2 weeks |
|
Mater Hospital |
Routine appointment 7 monthsConsultant referral – 1 week |
|
Location of MammographyUnits |
Waiting Times |
|
St. James's Hospital |
Breast Clinic – on demandUrgent referrals – 1 to 2 weeksRoutine referrals – 3 to 4 weeks |
|
St. Vincent's Hospital |
Consultant referral for symptomatic patients – 3 to 4 weeks. Symptomatic GP referral – 8 weeks |
|
Ennis General Hospital |
Urgent referrals – seen immediatelyNon urgent referrals – 3 to 4 week wait |
|
Letterkenny General Hospital |
Waiting time 3 to 4 weeks |
|
Limerick Regional Hospital |
Breast clinic – urgent referrals seen on the day |
|
Mayo General Hospital |
Consultant referral – 5 weeks |
|
Nenagh General Hospital |
Clinical referral – 2 weeksScreening referral – 8 weeks |
|
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda |
Breast Clinic referrals – as soon as possible.GP routine referral – 16 weeks |
|
Our Lady's Hospital, Navan |
Urgent referrals – as soon as possibleReferral from Breast Clinic – 3 weeks |
|
Portiuncula Hospital |
Machine currently not in use |
|
Portlaoise General Hospital |
No waiting list |
|
Sligo General Hospital |
3 to 4 weeks |
|
South Infirmary-Victoria Hospital, Cork |
Routine GP referrals – 4 monthsRoutine consultant Referrals – 2 to 3 days |
|
Tralee General Hospital |
No waiting list |
|
University College Hospital, Galway |
Routine clinical referrals – 5.5 weeksUrgent clinical referrals – seen immediately |
|
Waterford Regional Hospital |
Waiting time – 4 weeks |
