Vol. 525 No. 5
257 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if a person requires a general practitioner referral for a mammogram in a public hospital; if he has issued any directions to public hospitals in this regard; and his views on whether referral adds unnecessary cost to patients wishing to be screened. [25475/00]
If people are concerned that they have breast disease and they attend their general practitioner, the general practitioner may refer them to an acute hospital to be assessed. The appropriate further investigation of the patient will be the responsibility of the hospital at this stage and some patients may be referred for mammography. The Deputy will be aware that a review of the services for symptomatic breast disease was carried out by a sub group of the national cancer forum and I have received its report. I have considered this report, and while having taken no final decisions on its implementation, I accept the broad thrust of its recommendations. However, some further refinements are needed in implementation arrangements at local level. In this regard, I established an advisory group, chaired by Prof. Niall O'Higgins, St Vincent's Hospital, to assist and liaise with health boards in formulating their plans for the development of specialist breast cancer services. I am confident the development of symptomatic breast disease services which will result, will greatly enhance the quality of the services currently available.
In addition to the symptomatic service currently being provided in the acute hospitals, I have recently launched the national breast screening programme, BreastCheck. Phase I of this programme will cover the Eastern, North Eastern 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 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.
The Health (Provision of Information) Act 1997 facilitated the compilation of a national population register from which BreastCheck invites women in the target age group for screening. General practitioners do not have a role in the referral process. Women who attend for screening under the programme are not liable for any fees or charges.
