Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
500 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children if the scheme whereby all women who have a mastectomy are entitled to and provided with an initial prosthesis and two bras free of charge is being implemented fully in every health board area; the amount of funding allocated to the scheme; if the funding is adequate to meet demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11258/04]
View answerAs part of the development of services for symptomatic breast disease patients, designated funding has been made available to each health board and the ERHA to enable them to provide a prosthesis service to all breast cancer patients, irrespective of the patient's medical card status. Since 2001, funding of approximately €1.2 million has been made available by my Department to ensure that all post-operative breast cancer patients requiring prosthesis and bra fitting are provided with the initial prosthesis and two bras free of charge. This year my Department made available an additional €15 million to meet service pressures in oncology, including symptomatic breast disease services.
If the Deputy advises me of any area where there are difficulties relating to this service, I will refer the matter to the appropriate health board or the ERHA for reply.
