Bernard Allen
Ceist:262 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of women awaiting mammograms in Cork city and county; and the average waiting period for the scans. [22459/98]
Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
Women referred for mammograms to hospitals in the Southern Health Board area are seen in accordance with the medical priority attached to their case. The most urgent cases are seen within 24 hours of referral by a consultant where deemed medically necessary.
My Department does not collect information regarding the place of residence of persons on hospital waiting lists. It would not therefore be possible to give the Deputy a breakdown of the number of women awaiting mammograms in Cork city and county. However, the total number of women awaiting routine mammograms in Southern Health Board hospitals is 1,216. These are women who are referred for non urgent mammograms.
I am very conscious of the importance of mammography services and I am strongly committed to developing mammography services in the context of the National Cancer Strategy.