Symptomatic 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:
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Jan-Nov 2019
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Jan-Nov 2019
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Jan-Nov 2020
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Jan-Nov 2020
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Clinic
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Number of Attendances
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% Attendances within KPI
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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.