Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 2

Written Answers. - Cancer Screening Programme.

Deirdre Clune

Question:

312 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress to date in the introduction of breast screening for women; the proposed programme for implementation; when this service will be available to women in the 50 to 64 years age bracket; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22236/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

The Deputy will be aware that 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. Phase I will cover the Eastern Regional Health Authority, the North-Eastern Health Board and Midland Health Board areas and will target 136,000 women in the age cohort 50 to 64, which represents approximately 50% of the national target population.

The decision to proceed on a phased basis is a reflection of the complexities involved in the screening process rather than the costs involved and my Department's key objective is to ensure that the Irish programme meets the necessary quality assurance criteria. 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; on-going evaluation of the programme from a quality assurance perspective; and availability of the necessary clinical expertise to conduct the programme.

The service is being delivered by two central units, the Eccles unit on the Mater hospital campus and the Merrion unit on St. Vincent's hospital campus, with outreach to the community by means of three mobile units. The Eccles unit is now fully commissioned and screening commenced there in February 2000. Limited screening is also in progress in St. Vincent's hospital pending the construction of the new Merrion unit. In addition, the first mobile screening commenced on 21 August 2000 in Longford.

Decisions in relation to subsequent phases of the programme will be guided by the experience gained from putting phase I of the programme in place. Phase II will involve the extension of the programme to the rest of the country. The steering committee has recommended that phase II of the programme should follow phase I as soon as is practicable.

I am 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. At my request, a review of the symptomatic breast cancer services has been undertaken by the National Cancer Forum. I have received this report and it is currently under consideration.