Written Answers. - Cancer Screening Programme.
Jack Wall
Question:
100
Mr. Wall
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
his views on the publication of the BreastCheck annual report for 2002; if he has satisfied himself with the level of take up; when the service will be extended to the rest of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27576/03]
As the Deputy is aware, BreastCheck's annual report for 2002 was published on 5 November last. The report states that the uptake of breast screening in 2002 was 76%, which is well above the recommended international standard of 70%, set by the European Reference Centre for Quality Assurance in Cancer Screening. In 2002, the programme began inviting women for subsequent screening. The success of phase one of the BreastCheck programme forms the basis of my decision to extend the programme nationwide.
Under the extension, the BreastCheck clinical unit in the southern area will be located at the South Infirmary hospital in Cork, with three associated mobile units. Counties covered include Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford and south Tipperary. The BreastCheck clinical unit in the western area will be at University College Hospital Galway, with two associated mobile units. Its area of coverage will be counties Galway, Sligo, Roscommon, Donegal, Mayo, Leitrim, Clare and north Tipperary. Approximately 150,000 women in the target population of those between 50 and 64 years of age will be eligible for screening under the extension. The programme expects to diagnose approximately 360 cancers per annum among this population.
Under the business plan submitted by BreastCheck to my Department, the national expansion of the programme to the west and the south is costed at €27 million, including capital costs of €13 million. It is anticipated that additional costs will be incurred by the host hospitals and these are being assessed at present. Linkages with the symptomatic services are also being discussed. Approval has issued for the establishment of two capital project teams to develop a brief for the capital infrastructure needed for the static units in the south and west. The Western Health Board has completed its detailed options appraisal for the western region and has prepared full costings associated with the development of a static screening facility, allied to a symptomatic breast unit. These options are being considered by my Department.
The South Infirmary, where the southern clinical unit is located, considered it necessary to commission a site strategy study to ensure the integration of the breast screening service into the present and future development of the hospital. My Department recently issued approval for a capital grant of €230,000 for a site strategy study to be undertaken by professional architectural, engineering and quantity surveying experts on behalf of the hospital. It is expected that this study will be completed by February of next year. Adequate revenue funding will be available to BreastCheck next year to progress the roll-out of the programme.
An essential element of the roll-out of the programme is investment in education and training of radiographers in particular. BreastCheck employs qualified and experienced radiographers who have specialised postgraduate training and qualifications related to mammography. BreastCheck and the symptomatic services combined have a significant ongoing recruitment and training requirement in this area. I recently announced the development of a training centre for radiographers in mammography at Eccles Street. Resources are being made available to BreastCheck to support this initiative which will cost in excess of €750,000 and the centre is expected to be completed in the second half of 2004.
