Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 May 1995

Vol. 453 No. 6

Written Answers. - Diagnosis of Breast Cancer.

Eric J. Byrne

Ceist:

45 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Health the progress, if any, to date in developing the health services in view of the commitment in A Government of Renewal that centres of excellence will be developed for the diagnosis and treatment of women with breast cancer; the plans, if any, he has to develop the Breast Cancer Clinic concept for the largest general hospital in Ireland, Saint James's Hospital, Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9749/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): I assume that the Deputy is referring to Item 107 of the Plan for A Government of Renewal.

At present in Ireland, mammography is used largely as a diagnostic tool for symptomatic or worried women on referral by their general practitioners. There are now 17 diagnostic units throughout the country and expertise has been growing in all aspects of the early detection of breast cancer and its treatment.

I am conscious of the need to maintain standards of excellence in these diagnostic units. Accordingly, my Department has been in consultation with the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland and also the Faculty of Radiology in this regard. The Deputy will wish to know that the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland has agreed to undertake a review of all diagnostic units from a quality assurance perspective on behalf of my Department. Any decisions on the development of new units must await the outcome of this review.

In relation to mammography screening, the Deputy will be aware that the Government of Renewal programme also contains a commitment to expand the Eccles Street Breast Cancer Programme on a phased basis to cover those women in the high risk group nationwide. My Department is supporting this major mammography screening programme which is being undertaken at the Mater Foundation. This programme is one of a network of pilot schemes on breast cancer being carried out in the European Union.

The Eccles programme has been recognised by the European Union as a European Centre of Excellence. The key factors which contributed to its success in this regard are that it is a centralised screening programme with strong clinical leadership and trained and dedicated radiological, epidemiological and radiographical support.

The programme's second round of screening has recently been completed and a report on the findings of the programme was submitted to my Department recently. This report is currently being assessed and evaluated in my Department and I hope to be in a position to announce a decision on the expansion of the programme shortly.

On taking office as the Minister for Health, I set as a priority the development of services to combat cancer and my Department is working on a comprehensive cancer strategy which is due for completion in the coming months. The initiative on cancer was prompted by the perceived need to ensure the provision of an equitable and high quality cancer service throughout the country. The objective is to take all measures possible to reduce the incidence of cancer and to ensure that those who develop cancer receive the most effective care and treatment. The initiative will concentrate on four main areas. These are prevention (including screening), treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care.

With regard to the proposed development of a Breast Clinic in St. James's Hospital, I am aware that the hospital has recently submitted proposals in this regard to my Department. Their proposals will fall to be considered in the context of various developments already outlined in my reply.