Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2012
647 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health, in view of the delay in rolling out the national colorectal cancer screening programme, if he will outline the implications for the inclusion of Roscommon Hospital in the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5542/12]
View answerThe National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS), part of the Health Service Executive's National Cancer Control Programme, is responsible for the development and implementation of Ireland's first national colorectal screening programme. The programme is planned to begin in the final quarter of 2012. Preparations for implementation are continuing to ensure that every element of the screening programme is in place and fully quality assured before the programme is introduced.
The initial 15 colonoscopy units selected as candidate screening colonoscopy units for the programme must meet accreditation requirements, as determined by the NCSS Quality Assurance Committee, to achieve confirmed status as screening colonoscopy units. While Roscommon was not identified as one of the first 15 candidate units, any unit not initially selected may, in time, be included as a screening colonoscopy unit, as part of the national colorectal cancer screening programme.
Roscommon is one of 36 hospitals providing endoscopy services. It therefore provides colonoscopy and other screening endoscopy services for patients referred by their GPs for these screening services.
