Dan Neville
Ceist:302 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the extensions which have taken place to BreastCheck. [13423/03]
Written Answers. - Cancer Screening Programme.
BreastCheck, the national breast screening programme, commenced in March 2000. Phase one of the programme covers the Eastern Regional Health Authority, Midland Health Board and North-Eastern Health Board areas. Screening is being offered free of charge to all women in the areas in the target age group of between 50 and 64 years of age. The target population consists of approximately 140,000 women and represents about 50% of the national target population. By the end of December 2002, 110,636 women had been called for screening and 83,035 women had been screened. This represents an uptake of 75%. In February, I announced the full extension of BreastCheck in the east. Approximately 19,000 women between the ages of 50 and 64 in counties Wexford, Kilkenny and Carlow will be invited for screening, which is expected to begin following the completion of a new permanent screening facility at the Merrion unit, adjacent to St Vincent's University Hospital, which is under construction at a cost of approximately €6 million.
In March 2003, I announced the full national expansion of BreastCheck to the south and west of the country. Under the extension, two static units are proposed in host hospitals – one in Cork and the other in Galway. The southern area unit will be located at South Infirmary Victoria Hospital in Cork, with three associated mobile units. The area of coverage is counties Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford and south Tipperary. Under the extension, approximately 130,000 women in the target population – those between 50 and 64 years of age – will be eligible for screening. the southern area will be located at South Infirmary Victoria Hospital in Cork, with three associated mobile units. The area of coverage is counties Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford and south Tipperary. Under the extension, approximately 130,000 women in the target population – those between 50 and 64 years of age – will be eligible for screening. The programme expects to diagnose approximately 450 cancers per annum among this population.
Approval has issued for the establishment of two capital project teams to develop a brief for the capital infrastructure needed for the static units in the south and west. This approval will allow for the immediate commencement of the detailed planning for the national roll-out. Discussions have also commenced between the Department of Health and Children and BreastCheck with representatives of the static units concerning operational plans for the national roll-out, including linkages with the symptomatic services and detailed costings. In particular, it will be important that integrated care pathways are developed for women diagnosed with cancer to ensure that they have access to the full range of diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care in all regions.