Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Jun 2001

Vol. 539 No. 3

Written Answers. - Cancer Screening Programme.

Tom Enright

Question:

62 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of women who have been called under the nationwide breast cancer screening programme to date; the number of women who have been called to date in the Midland Health Board area for breast cancer screening; the criteria used by him and his Department to call women for this programme; if women are being called in on an area by area basis; if they are being called on an age basis; the estimated number of women eligible to be called under the scheme; if women can apply to their medical practitioner to participate in this scheme; and if there are many women waiting to be called to participate in this scheme. [19116/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

"BreastCheck", the national breast screening programme, commenced in February 2000. Phase one of the programme covers the Eastern Regional Health Authority area and the North-Eastern and Midland Health Boards. "BreastCheck" have informed me that, up to 20 June 2001 a total of 41,630 women have been invited for screening, including 2,814 women from the Midland Health Board area.

Screening is currently available to all women living in the Eastern Regional Health Authority Area and the North-Eastern and Midland Health Boards aged between 50 and 64 with calls for screening being done on a random basis by "BreastCheck".

General practitioners in the screening areas provide self-registration leaflets to their patients or supply "BreastCheck"'s freephone number to enable women ascertain if they are on the "BreastCheck" register.

Based on the 1996 Census, it is estimated that there are approximately 140,000 eligible women living within the phase one area of the programme. Given the number already called for screening, there are approximately 100,000 women still to be called to participate in phase one.

It is the intention of my Department that phase two of the programme, which will involve the extension of "BreastCheck" nation-wide, should follow phase one as soon as is practicably possible. The decision to proceed on a phased basis is a reflection of the complexities involved in the screening process and it is essential that the programme is driven by International Quality Assurance criteria and best practice.