Emmet Stagg
Question:614 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 145 of 10 July 2008, when the national roll out of BreastCheck will be sufficiently developed. [31260/08]
View answerWednesday, 24 September 2008
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Written answers
BreastCheck commenced roll out in the Western Region in May 2007 and in the Southern Region last October and is in the process of extending the programme to all eligible women in the age range 50-64 years.
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 focused 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.