Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:101 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans he has with regard to the development of cervical cancer screening programmes here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17873/00]
Written Answers. - Cancer Screening Programme.
The report of the Department of Health Cervical Screening Committee was launched as part of the national cancer strategy in March 1997. The main thrust of the report is that cervical screening is a worthwhile preventive health measure when delivered as part of an organised screening programme. The report recommends, among other things, the introduction of a national organised screening programme for women in the 25-60 age group at minimum intervals of five years.
Having regard to the recommendations of this report the national cervical screening programme is being introduced on a phased basis. It is anticipated that phase I of the programme will commence in October this year in the Mid-Western Health Board area.
Phase I will involve 67,000 women in the 25-60 age group in the Mid-Western Health Board area. Cervical screening will be provided free to women involved in phase I of the programme initially, and to all women on the extension of the programme to the rest of the country. An expert advisory committee on cervical screening is overseeing the implementation of phase I. In addition, the committee's remit extends to providing advice on developments regarding best practice including qualify assurance and new technologies, development of protocols, etc., and in relation to the extension of the programme to the rest of the country.
The process of planning and organising the phased introduction of the national programme will be greatly facilitated by the experience gained in phase I.
Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:102 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress of the breast cancer screening programme to date; the future plan in this area; if nation-wide breast screening services will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17874/00]
The Deputy will be aware that in March 1997, the then Minister 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% of the national target population.
The decision to proceed on a phased basis is a reflection of the complexities involved in the screening process rather than the costs involved and my Department's key objective is to ensure that the Irish programme meets the necessary quality assurance criteria. 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; on-going evaluation of the programme from a quality assurance perspective; and availability of the necessary clinical expertise to conduct the programme.
The service is being delivered by two central units, the Eccles unit on the Mater hospital campus and the Merrion unit on St. Vincent's hospital campus, with outreach to the community by means of three mobile units. Limited screening commenced in both units in March 2000 without publicity to test equipment, systems and procedures. Decisions in relation to subsequent phases of the programme will be guided by the experience gained from putting phase I of the programme in place. Phases II and III will involve the extension of the programme to the rest of the country. The steering committee has recom mended that phase II of the programme should follow phase I as soon as is practicable.
My Department is conscious of the importance of early access to symptomatic mammography services and of the provision of an equivalent standard of excellence in both symptomatic and screening mammography services. At my request, a review of the symptomatic breast cancer services has been undertaken by the National Cancer Forum. I have received the report of this group, which I am considering. I propose to make funding available under the national cancer strategy to develop symptomatic breast cancer services further.
My Department recently raised the issue of mammography referral practices with the health boards. The Department's key concern is to ensure that all women, irrespective of age or where they live have timely access to symptomatic services. A critical factor in this regard is referral by GPs to local diagnostic mammography services in the first instance. This should result in a reduction in average waiting times at all mammographic units, thereby improving access for women and at the same time ensuring that expertise levels are maintained and developed in diagnostic units around the country.