Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 2 Dec 2003

Vol. 576 No. 1

Written Answers. - Cancer Screening Programme.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Ceist:

246 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the average waiting time for cervical screening test results at each of the State's centres; the average waiting time for the test at each of the State's centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29111/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The latest information from the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority concerning the waiting times for the results of cervical smear tests is set out in the following table:

Laboratory	Waiting Time
St. Luke's Hospital	Routine 14 weeks: Urgents 2-3 weeks
St. James's Hospital	Routine 4-6 weeks: Urgents 2 weeks maximum
Coombe Women's Hospital	Routine 4-6 weeks: Urgents take precedence
National Maternity Hospital	Routine 1-2 weeks: Urgents 1 week maximum
Beaumont Hospital	Routine 2 weeks maximum: Urgents 1 week
RCSI	Routine 18 weeks: Urgents 2-3 weeks
Rotunda Hospital	Routine 7-8 weeks: Urgents 24 hours
Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda	Routine 8-9 weeks: Urgents processed immediately
Sligo General Hospital	Routine 16 weeks: Urgents 3-4 weeks
Cork University Hospital	Routine 29 days maximum: Urgent 1 week
Mercy Hospital	Routine 3 weeks: Urgent 2 days
University College Hospital Galway	Routine 4 weeks: Urgent 2-2.5 weeks

Information regarding the waiting times for cervical smear tests is not readily available as the vast majority of cervical smear tests are taken at general practitioner surgeries and family planning clinics

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Ceist:

247 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the planned extension of the BreastCheck service to the Munster region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29112/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

As the Deputy is aware, I announced the national extension of BreastCheck, the national breast screening programme, on 27 March 2003. The BreastCheck clinical unit in the southern area will be located at South Infirmary, Victoria Hospital, with three associated mobile units. Counties covered include Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford and Tipperary S.R. The BreastCheck clinical unit in the Western area will be at University College Hospital Galway, with two associated mobile units. The area of coverage is counties Galway, Sligo, Roscommon, Donegal, Mayo, Leitrim, Clare and Tipperary N.R. Under the extension, approximately 150,000 women in the target population of 50 to 64 years of age will be eligible for screening. The programme expects to diagnose approximately 360 cancers per annum among this population.