Vol. 511 No. 6
262 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children when the national breast screening programme will be extended countrywide; the target date, if any, in this regard; and the completion date for the finalisation of phase 2. [24990/99]
The Deputy will be aware that in March 1997, my predecessor announced the introduction of a major action plan 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.
There are two central units located at St. Vincent's Hospital and at the Mater Hospital, where the screening, assessment and treatment of women will be carried out using a multi-disciplinary approach. In addition, the use of mobile units by BreastCheck, the national breast screening board, will ensure that the screening service is accessible to all women in the target age group in these areas. My intention is to provide a top quality service which meets best international standards. I am satisfied that the careful planning and deliberation by the national breast screening committee over the past two years in relation to all aspects of the programme will ensure that we can offer a service which is underpinned by standards of excellence and one which will ultimately pay dividends in terms of reductions in mortality among women in the target population.
The decision to proceed on a phased basis is a reflection of the complexities involved in the screening process and the importance of ensuring that the Irish programme meets the necessary quality assurance criteria. I am very aware of the unnecessary trauma and anguish that could be caused to women and their families as a result of mistakes in an organised screening programme. It is for this reason that the Irish national breast screening programme must be driven by international quality assurance standards and best practice. Specifically, the phasing will take account of the following critical success factors, the achievement of acceptable compliance levels among the target population, the on-going evaluation of the programme from a quality assurance perspective and the availability of the necessary clinical expertise to conduct the programme.
