Cecilia Keaveney
Question:164 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans for mammograms to be carried out in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14915/04]
View answerThursday, 20 May 2004
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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 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 rollout 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 north riding. 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 south riding.
The national rollout 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. 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. This is being considered by my Department in the context of the framework for capital investment 2004 to 2008 which is being discussed with the Department of Finance at present.
An essential element of the rollout 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.