Billy Timmins
Question:273 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health and Children the situation regarding breast cancer screening for County Wicklow; the plans to extend the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7677/02]
Written Answers. - Cancer Screening Programme.
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:275 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the BreastCheck pilot project; when it will be introduced throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7710/02]
Ned O'Keeffe
Question:362 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children when the breast screening programme will be extended to the southern area of the country. [8267/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 273, 275 and 362 together.
BreastCheck, the National Breast Screening Programme, commenced in March 2000 with phase one of the programme covering the Eastern Regional Health Authority, Midland Health Board and North-Eastern Health Board. Screening is being offered free of charge to all women in those areas in the target age group 50 to 64 years of age. It is expected that phase one of the programme will be completed by December 2002. To date, over 50,000 women have been called for screening and over 34,000 women have been screened. This represents an uptake of 70%.
In relation to the current position in County Wicklow, I have been informed by BreastCheck that it will be commencing screening for women in Bray in May 2002 and they expect that it will take approximately 14 weeks to complete. BreastCheck also advises that no dates have as yet been formalised for the screening of women in the rest of Wicklow as two locations for mobile units to undertake this screening have still to be finalised. However, BreastCheck anticipates that the screening programme will be completed in Wicklow before the end of the year.
It is essential that the programme is driven by international quality assurance and best practice and the experience gained in phase one will facilitate the process of planning and organising the roll-out of the programme nationwide. BreastCheck is currently in discussion with health boards concerning expansion of the programme nationwide. My Department will continue to support BreastCheck in moving to nationwide coverage as soon as possible.