Written Answers - Cancer Screening Programme.
Noel Ahern
Ceist:
164
Mr. N. Ahern
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the resources invested in the cancer strategy and BreastCheck facility attached to the Mater Hospital, Dublin 7; if this is the only such unit in the State; if not, the number of similar units there are; the number of women being called per week and per month; if treatment and hospital facilities have been earmarked for women needing treatment; if he will explain the logic behind the BreastCheck facility if the hospital back-up has not been provided; if he will obtain a bed in the Mater Hospital for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 who was discharged from hospital for the 2001 Easter weekend for re-admission on 17 April 2001 but who has not been able to get a bed since.
[12536/01]
Considerable developments have taken place in cancer care and treatment since the commencement of the implementation of the national cancer strategy in 1997. To date more than £60 million has been invested in developing cancer services. One of the major elements of the implementation of the strategy was the introduction of a national breast screening programme.
BreastCheck, the national breast screening programme was launched in October 2000. Phase 1 of the programme has commenced in the Eastern Regional Health Authority, Midland Health Board and North Eastern Health Board areas and offers free mammography to women aged between 50 and 64 years living in those areas.
BreastCheck currently has two static units and one mobile unit. The static units are based on the campus of the Mater Misericordiae Hospital and on the campus of St. Vincent's University Hospital. Currently one mobile screening unit operates at a local level in country areas covered by the programme. An additional mobile screening unit will come on line this summer. Each unit is a screening facility independent of the hospitals until a diagnosis of cancer is made or admission is required. The programme is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of radiologists, radiographers, pathologists, nurses and surgeons.
In the period of January to March 2001 approximately 2,700 women per month were screened at the BreastCheck units, with 1,100 of these screened at the Eccles Unit on the campus of the Mater Hospital. In the same period approximately 700 women per month were screened on the mobile unit. Less than 1% of those screened are admitted to hospital for further management.
To facilitate the timely treatment of screen detected lesions BreastCheck has secured one all-day operating theatre per static unit, and four to six in-patient hospital beds per affiliated hospital have been earmarked for the treatment of these patients. These range from one-day to seven-day beds.
With regard to the particular case mentioned by the Deputy, I am advised by the Eastern Regional Health Authority that the person mentioned was scheduled to be admitted to St. Vincent's ward, Mater Hospital on 16 April and, at her request, was deferred to 17 April. Unfortunately, due to clinical need it was not possible to admit the patient on 17 April but she was admitted on 26 April for her treatment.
Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:
165
Ms Fitzgerald
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the waiting time for cervical cancer smear test appointments in each health board area; and the waiting time for results.
[12537/01]
The information sought by the Deputy in respect of all health boards is not readily available to the Department. I have written to the chief executive officers of the health boards seeking details of the waiting times for the appointments and results of cervical smear tests and I will forward same to the Deputy as soon as possible.
