Damien English
Question:16 Mr. English asked the Minister for Health and Children when BreastCheck will take place in the remaining areas set to receive the service. [18444/04]
View answerTuesday, 22 June 2004
Questions (19)
Written answers
The national breast screening programme commenced in March 2000. Phase one covered the Eastern Regional Health Authority, Midland Health Board and the North Eastern Health Board regions. Last year I announced the extension of the BreastCheck programme to counties Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford and the national roll-out to the southern and western counties. Last March screening commenced in Wexford.
The BreastCheck clinical unit in the western area will be at the 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 clinical unit in the southern area will be located at the South Infirmary-Victoria Hospital with three associated mobile units. Counties covered include Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford and Tipperary South Riding.
The national roll-out of BreastCheck requires detailed planning to include essential infrastructure. Two project teams, one in each region, were established to develop briefs for the capital infrastructure needed for the static units in the south and west. The South Infirmary, that deals with the southern region, considered it necessary to commission a site strategy study to ensure the integration of the breast screening service into its present and future development. My Department provided a capital grant of €230,000 for the study to be undertaken by professional architectural, engineering and quantity surveying experts. The study was submitted to my Department at the end of March and a detailed brief is 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. My Department is considering both projects in the context of the framework for capital investment 2004-2008 that is being discussed with the Department of Finance.
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 that will become the national training centre in breast imaging. Resources are being made available to BreastCheck to support the initiative that will cost in excess of €750,000. Design specification work was undertaken, the core elements of the training programme are being addressed and the recruitment process for a course leader has been initiated.