Simon Coveney
Question:190 Mr. Coveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has plans to improve the inadequate level of breast care services for women, especially in the Southern Health Board area. [29968/04]
View answerTuesday, 23 November 2004
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Since 1997, there has been a cumulative additional investment of approximately €57 million in the development of appropriate treatment and care services in the Southern Health Board region for people with cancer. The investment has enabled the funding of ten additional consultant posts together with support staff in key areas such as medical oncology, haematology, radiation oncology and breast surgery. The funding has facilitated the appointment of 27 cancer care nurse specialists across the region. The roll out of the national screening programme to the remaining counties is a major priority in the development of cancer services. It will ensure that all women in the 50 to 64 age group in every county have access to breast screening and follow up treatment where required. A capital investment of approximately €20 million has been approved to construct and equip two static clinical units, one in Cork and the other in Galway. The investment will also ensure that mobile units are available to screen women in the relevant age group in the Southern Health Board area and throughout the country. Detailed planning for the units is progressing as a matter of priority and a design brief will be completed shortly. It is expected that a design team will be in place early next year. The design, construction and commissioning of the units will take approximately two and a half years.
The report entitled Development of Cancer Services for Symptomatic Breast Disease recommended the development of a limited number of specialist units. Considerable investment and progress has been made in implementing the recommendations with most of the units now operational or at an advanced stage of development. The symptomatic breast service units for the Southern Health Board is at South Infirmary-Victoria Hospital in Cork and at Cork University Hospital. Any woman irrespective of her age or residence who has immediate concerns or symptoms should contact her general practitioner who, where appropriate, will refer her to the symptomatic services in her region.