Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020
793. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the consultations at the breast clinic in Cork University Hospital are operating at full capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25320/20]
View answer794. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if information (details supplied) will be provided regarding the breast clinic at Cork University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25321/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 793 and 794 together.
A Key Performance Indicator for Symptomatic Breast Disease Clinics is that 95% of urgent cases be seen within 10 working days and that 95% of routine referrals be seen within 12 weeks. Figures for the Cork University Hospital Symptomatic Breast Disease Clinic this year (July latest available) are as follows:
|
-Urgent Referral |
Metric |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
July |
YTD |
|
Cork University Hospital |
Percent Seen on Target Total Number of attendances |
82.1% 240 |
61.4% 220 |
32.9% 146 |
80.4% 179 |
97.7% 175 |
39.5% 210 |
17.0% 241 |
58.0% 1,411 |
|
Routine Referral |
Metric |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
July |
YTD |
|
Cork University Hospital |
Percent Seen on Target Total Number of Attendances |
57.8% 320 |
59.0% 295 |
80.3% 117 |
96.2% 26 |
39.7% 58 |
79.3% 116 |
76.0% 100 |
64.8% 1,032 |
Attendance numbers at urgent Symptomatic Breast Disease Clinic have returned to near pre-Covid levels. While attendances are down for routine Symptomatic Breast Disease Clinics, they are showing some recovery.
The HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme advise that, overall, cancer services are running at reduced capacity during the Covid-19 pandemic, due to physical distancing and infection prevention and control measures.
