Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2004
249 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason some counties are without breast screening services; the counties in question; the action he is taking to address this situation; when he intends to have this service operating in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13165/04]
View answerThe national breast screening programme commenced in March 2000 with phase one of the programme covering the Eastern Regional Health Authority, the Midland Health Board and the North Eastern Health Board region. Last year I announced the extension of the BreastCheck programme to Counties Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford and also the national roll-out to the southern and western counties. Screening commenced in Wexford in March of this year.
The BreastCheck clinical unit in the western area will be at University College Hospital, Galway, with two associated mobile units. The area of coverage is counties Galway, Sligo, Roscommon, Donegal, Mayo, Leitrim, Clare and Tipperary NR. The BreastCheck clinical unit in the southern area will be located at South Infirmary-Victoria Hospital, with three associated mobile units. Counties covered include Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford and Tipperary SR. When these units are in place a BreastCheck service will be available to the target population in every county in Ireland. The national roll-out of BreastCheck requires detailed planning to include essential infrastructure.
Two project teams, one in each region, have been established to develop briefs for the capital infrastructure needed for the static units in the south and west. In relation to the southern region, the South Infirmary 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 made available a capital grant of €230,000 for the study to be undertaken by professional architectural, engineering and quantity surveying experts. This study is now complete and was submitted to my Department at the end of March and a detailed brief is now being prepared by BreastCheck and the hospital. As regards the west, BreastCheck submitted a number of options for the construction of a static unit on the grounds of University College Hospital, Galway. Both projects are being considered by my Department in the context of the framework for capital investment 2004-8 which is being discussed with the Department of Finance at present.
An essential element of the roll out of the programme is investment in education and training of radiographers. BreastCheck employs qualified and experienced radiographers who have specialised postgraduate training and qualifications related to mammography. BreastCheck and the symptomatic breast cancer services combined have a significant ongoing recruitment and training requirement in this area. Last year I announced the development of a training centre for radiographers and mammography at Eccles Street which will become the National Training Centre in Breast Imaging. Resources are being made available to BreastCheck to support this initiative which will cost in excess of €750,000. Design specification work has been undertaken, the core elements of the training programme are being addressed and the recruitment process for a course leader has been initiated.
