Vol. 540 No. 3
176 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will clarify the situation regarding women being called for the BreastCheck programme; the way in which it operates; if the age for commencement is 50; the way in which people are being called; if a person must wait to be called; the time delay involved for people who apply for checks without being called; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20795/01]
BreastCheck, the national breast screening programme commenced in February 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. Based on the 1996 census, it is estimated that there are approximately 140,000 eligible women living within the phase one area of the programme and BreastCheck have recently informed me that up to 20 June 2001, a total of 41,630 women have been invited for screening.
Screening takes place on an area by area basis. As BreastCheck offers screening to women in the target age group by invitation only, it is not a demand service and if a woman has symptoms she should consult her general practitioner.
