Vol. 538 No. 3
191 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will investigate the situation of a person (details supplied) in County Cork cannot get an out-patient appointment; and if he will arrange to have the person immediately examined. [17687/01]
The provision of services in the case to which the Deputy is referring is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the Southern Health Board. I have, therefore, asked the chief executive officer at the board to look into the matter and reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
192 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to a waiting list for persons who have responded to his Department's BreastCheck initiative; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that this waiting time will mean that a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 will be out of the target age category of 50 to 64 by the time an appointment can be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17688/01]
BreastCheck, the national breast screening programme, commenced in February 2000. BreastCheck is strongly committed to reaching all women in the target age group 50 to 64 years as quickly as the campaign allows. Phase one of the programme covers the Eastern Regional Health Authority Area, the North-Eastern and Midland Health Board areas. Special legislation was passed allowing BreastCheck to collate a register of eligible women and screening will be offered to well women, who have no symptoms, in a systematic way so that all eligible women can be screened routinely every two years.
BreastCheck offers screening to women in the target age group by invitation only and is, therefore, not a demand service. If a woman has symptoms she should consult her general practitioner. Women in the target age group will be automatically invited for screening on an area by area basis, in a fair and equitable manner covering each of the health board areas in phase one. It was determined from the outset that this programme should initially be limited to women in the 50 to 64 age group, but it is anticipated that when the programme is sufficiently developed and it is assured that a quality service can be delivered at national level, consideration will be given to including older women and continuing the screening of women already in the programme who have reached 65 years of age. Screening by mammography under the age of 50 remains unproved in terms of reduction in mortality.
