Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Dec 2000

Vol. 527 No. 5

Written Answers. - Cancer Screening Programme.

Charles Flanagan

Question:

63 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans he has to maintain existing breast cancer screening facilities; and the further plans he has to expand these facilities throughout the country. [28764/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The Deputy may be aware that Breast Check, the national breast screening programme, was formally launched on 10 October 2000 and it is being implemented on a planned phased basis.

Phase I of the programme is covering the Eastern, North Eastern and Midland Health Board area and is targeting 140,000 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. The first mobile unit commenced screening on 21 August 200 in Longford and moved to the Navan area on 13 November 2000.

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 programme meets the necessary quality assurance criteria. It is for this reason that the national breast screening programme must be driven by international quality assurance standards and best practice. 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. Breast Check has recommended that phase II of the programme should follow phase I as soon as is practicable and professionally advisable.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

64 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children when he will provide cervical screening under the GMS to ensure that women on low incomes will have access to this preventative measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28911/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Phase I of the national cervical screening programme commenced in the Mid-Western Health Board in October 2000. Under the programme, in the region of 67,000 women aged 25-60 years will be screened, free of charge, at minimum intervals of five years.

The question of extending the programme to cover women outside the Mid-Western Health Board area, including those covered by the GMS, is currently under consideration by my Department in conjunction with the chief executive officers of the health boards and the expert advisory group on cervical screening.

It is important to note that while cervical smear testing is not currently provided by GPs under the scheme for medical cardholders, such testing which is found to be necessary in the context of the individual women's medical examination and clinical needs is available under the GMS scheme. For those women who require follow-up treatment, such service is available to all women, including medical cardholders, within the public hospital system.