Vol. 537 No. 5
308 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Health and Children when radiotherapy facilities, a specialised breast unit and phase two of BreastCheck, the national breast screening programme, will be implemented in the Mid-Western Health Board region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16681/01]
As the Deputy is aware, the planned development of cancer services nationally has been guided by the national cancer strategy.
BreastCheck, the national breast screening programme, commenced in February 2000 with phase one of the programme covering the Eastern Regional Health Authority area and the North Eastern and Midland Health Board areas. It is the intention of my Department that phase two of the programme, which will involve the extension of BreastCheck nationwide, should follow phase one as soon as is practicably possible. The decision to proceed on a phased basis is a reflection of the complexities involved in the screening process and it is essential that the programme is driven by international quality assurance criteria and best practice.
Symptomatic breast cancer services are being developed in line with the core recommendations of the report of the subgroup of the national cancer forum on the development of symptomatic breast disease services. Funding for specialist breast disease services in the Mid-Western Health Board area will be considered in the context of the Estimates for 2002.
Having regard to developments in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, I established an expert working group under the chairmanship of Professor Donal Hollywood to examine radiotherapy requirements in the context of the further implementation of the national cancer strategy. The work of the expert group is at an advanced stage and the group's report is expected in the coming months.
