Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Jun 2002

Vol. 553 No. 5

Written Answers. - Cancer Treatment Services.

Jerry Cowley

Question:

293 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will extend the BreastCheck programme; the reason it should be delayed any longer on a nationwide basis in view of the fact that 100 women could be saved every year from this disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14524/02]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

315 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if there are any preliminary results from the national BreastCheck programme on the percentage of women screened who have been diagnosed with breast cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14718/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 293 and 315 together.

As the Deputy is aware, 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.

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. All of the health boards located outside the phase one area are represented on the board of BreastCheck by their respective chief executive officers.

Up to February 2002, the most recent validated figures from BreastCheck show that 70,435 women have been invited for screening and 49,016 women have been screened. This represents an uptake of 73%. BreastCheck has informed my Department that the percentage of women screened who have been diagnosed with cancer in the programme to February 2002 is at an average rate of 0.9% or nine per 1,000. The actual number of cancers detected is 441.

My Department has been in ongoing consultation with BreastCheck concerning expansion of the programme. My Department will continue to support BreastCheck in moving to nationwide coverage as soon as possible.