Emmet Stagg
Question:145 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children further to parliamentary Question No. 494 of 30 January 2008, when she will extend breast screening to women aged 65 to 69 years. [28520/08]
View answerThursday, 10 July 2008
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Written answers
BreastCheck commenced roll-out in the Western Region last May and in the Southern region last October. I officially opened the BreastCheck clinical static units in Cork and Galway last December. The programme is designed to offer repeat screening within an interval of 21-27 months.
The expert advice from BreastCheck and from the National Cancer Forum, as contained in the National Strategy for Cancer Control, is that following the national extension of the programme, the upper age limit should be extended to women aged 69 years. The priority of BreastCheck is to screen women who have not yet been screened and accordingly it is fully focussed at present on the completion of the first round of screening in the West and South. I will consider extending the age limit as recommended when the national roll-out of the programme is sufficiently developed and it is assured that a quality service is being delivered. Any woman irrespective of her age who has immediate concerns or symptoms should contact her GP who, where appropriate, will refer her to the symptomatic services in her area.