Vol. 531 No. 1
88 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement regarding the delays in mammography testing which are occurring on the north side of Dublin resulting in nine month delays from the time of referral. [5024/01]
The provision of services in this instance is the statutory responsibility of the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the information available from the authority does not support the waiting times suggested by the Deputy. I understand from the ERHA in relation to the Mater Hospital that, on receipt of a general practitioner referral letter, urgent appointments are arranged for the following week and routine appointments are arranged for two to three weeks later. With regard to mammography testing, urgent patients are tested within two weeks and the next available routine appointment is April next.
The mammography service in Beaumont Hospital is a symptomatic service only. A screening service is not provided. The mammography service is provided on Monday afternoons and all day on Tuesdays. The next routine appointment is 23 March 2001. A number of slots are reserved in the Monday session for emergency referrals. Access to the service is available only to Beaumont Hospital consultants.
