Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 February 2021
951. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the length of the wait time for a woman to avail of a mammogram; if the wait time is improving or worsening; his plans to reduce these waiting times; the reason it is possible to get a mammogram in the private sector with a general practitioner referral letter in a much quicker timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7388/21]
View answerSymptomatic Breast Disease Clinics for patients with suspected breast disease have been established by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) in the eight designated cancer centres (with a satellite symptomatic breast disease clinic from UHG operating in Letterkenny University Hospital).
The performance of each centre in meeting access targets for both urgent and non-urgent patients is monitored by the NCCP and is reviewed on a monthly basis. The target timeframes are for 95% of patients triaged as urgent by their GP to be seen within 10 working days; and 95% of patients triaged as non-urgent by their GP to be seen within 12 weeks. The NCCP liaises on an on-going basis with hospitals to identify measures that can be taken to improve performance, where necessary. Performance for January - November 2020 (most recent data available) is as follows:
|
Jan-Nov 2019 |
Jan-Nov 2019 |
Jan-Nov 2020 |
Jan-Nov 2020 |
|
|
Clinic |
Number of Attendances |
% Attendances within KPI |
Number of Attendances |
% Attendances within KPI |
|
Urgent Symptomatic Breast Disease Clinics |
19,559 |
70.20% |
18,011 |
71% |
|
Non-Urgent Symptomatic Breast Disease Clinics |
20,558 |
70.30% |
15,274 |
58% |
The National Action Plan on Covid-19 identified the continued provision of cancer care as a priority. All Symptomatic Breast Disease clinics remained open and accepting referrals during the Covid-19 pandemic with clinical priority given to referrals triaged as urgent, in line with guidance issued by the NCCP. Funding of €12m has been allocated for the restoration of cancer services in the context of Covid-19. This funding is being utilised to support the restoration of cancer services to 95% of 2019 capacity.
