Liam Twomey
Question:316 Dr. Twomey asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason breast screening, including BreastCheck, is not integrated into the regional centre at Waterford Regional Hospital. [10739/04]
View answerTuesday, 6 April 2004
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The national breast screening board was established under the Health Act 1970 to implement a scheme for the early diagnosis and primary treatment of breast cancer in women in the 50 to 64 age group. Phase one of the scheme operates in the eastern part of the country. Last year, I announced the extension of the programme to counties Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford and the national roll-out to the western and southern parts of the country. Under the BreastCheck scheme, women will have their diagnosis, investigation and primary treatment managed by a multidisciplinary team.
Two centres operate in the eastern region, one at St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, and the other at the Mater Hospital, Dublin. In 2002 the European Reference Organisation for Quality Assured Breast Screening and Diagnostic Services, EUREF, evaluated the BreastCheck programme at these centres. EUREF concluded that the programme operated to a very high standard. The overwhelming majority of women whose breast cancer is detected by BreastCheck receive their primary treatment and follow-up at one of these centres. Women also have an option of treatment and follow-up at their regional designated centre for symptomatic breast disease. BreastCheck organises its services to ensure integrated clinical pathways are in place to effectively treat and care for women with breast cancer which involves close linkages with the symptomatic services.
BreastCheck is developing a similar model of treatment and care as part of the national extension of the programme which will require a further two centres. The centre in the south, which will provide services for women in County Waterford, will be located at the South Infirmary Hospital, Cork, and the centre in the west will be located at University College Hospital, Galway. Both these centres are at the planning stages. Women diagnosed with breast cancer under the BreastCheck programme in the Waterford region, for example, will be referred to the centre in Cork as soon as it is operational. They will also retain the option of seeking referral to the regional symptomatic services at Waterford Regional Hospital.