Vol. 529 No. 1
620 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make arrangements to have included in the breast check scheme those women who were eligible for breast check at the time of announcement in February 2000 but in whose areas the breast check scheme did not become available until after they were 65; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1481/01]
The Deputy will be aware that in March 1997, a major action plan was announced 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 of the programme has commenced and is covering the Eastern, North Eastern and Midland Health Board areas and is targeting 140,000 women in the age cohort 50 to 64, which represents approximately 50% of the national target population. 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. Phase II will involve the extension of the programme to the rest of the country and will be implemented as soon as is practicable.
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. Screening commenced in both units in March 2000. The Deputy will appreciate that the nature, scope and extent of the national breast screening programme has determined that it can only proceed on a gradual basis. Screening, therefore, takes place on an area by area basis and is done by district electoral divisions. As it is anticipated that phase I of the programme will take a minimum of two years to complete, it is understandable and inevitable that some women will become ineligible to participate in the programme due to the time span involved.
It was determined from the outset that this programme should initially be limited to women in the 50-64 age group, but it is anticipated that, when the programme is sufficiently developed and it is assured that a quality service can be delivered at national level, consideration will be given to including older women and continuing the screening of women already in the programme who have reached 65 years of age. Screening by mammography under the age of 50 remains unproven in terms of reduction in mortality.
