Vol. 495 No. 7
420 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the termination by the South-Eastern Health Board of appointments for cancer smear tests for patients in the Carlow and Kilkenny community care area; the action, if any, he will take to restore this essential health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21324/98]
421 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health and Children the waiting time for cancer smear tests for each community care area in the South-Eastern Health Board region. [21325/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 420 and 421 together.
In relation to waiting time, I presume the Deputy is referring to waiting times for appointments for the taking of cervical smear tests, rather than the waiting period for the laboratory analysis of such tests. I am informed by the South-Eastern Health Board that approximately 16,000 smear tests are carried out annually for women in its region. In excess of 15,000 of these tests are taken by general practitioners/gynaecologists and in these situations there are no waiting lists. The remaining smears, approximately 800, are carried out in health board community care clinics and the waiting period for appointments is as follows:
|
Community Care Area |
Number of smears taken annually in community care clinics |
Waiting time |
|
Waterford |
100 |
8-10 months |
|
Carlow/Kilkenny |
286 |
10-12 months |
|
South Tipperary |
353 |
none |
|
Wexford |
Service provided by GPs or Gynaecologists |
n/a |
422 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will report on the discussions within his Department on plans to establish nationwide breast clinics; and other measures under consideration to ensure appropriate screening and early detection of breast cancer. [21326/98]
I presume that the Deputy is referring to my Department's proposals for the establishment of an organised breast cancer screening programme.
In March 1997, a major action plan was introduced to implement the proposals contained in the national cancer strategy. Included in the plan were proposals for the introduction on a phased basis of a national breast screening programme. Phase I will cover the Eastern, North-Eastern and Midland Health Board areas and will target 120,000 women in the age cohort 50 to 64, which represents approximately 50 per cent of the national target population.
Following the launch of the cancer action plan, a national steering committee, chaired by Dr. Sheelah Ryan, chief executive officer of the Western Health Board, was established to guide the implementation of the national programme of screening for breast cancer. Since its establishment in April 1997 considerable progress has been made on a number of fronts. The principal developments in this regard are:
(i) The passage of the Health (Provision of Information) Act 1997 which facilitated the development of a population register. A population register for the programme has now been compiled. It is currently being validated and fine-tuned and will be operational by the time screening commences.
(ii) A decision by the breast screening steering committee on a model of delivery for phase I of the programme in November 1997. It has been agreed that there will be two central units based at the Mater and St. Vincent's, where the screening, assessment and treatment of women will be carried out using a multi-disciplinary team approach involving the relevant clinical disciplines, including the screening radiologist. In addition, there will be two mobile units to bring the screening services to the women in the more remote/rural areas within the three health boards in phase I. Each mobile unit will be linked with one of the central units. This should ensure uniformity of standards and continuity of care.
(iii) The appointment of Dr. Jane Buttimer as project director for the programme in May 1998.
