Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 April 2004
56 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the proposal lodged with his Department in June 2003 by BreastCheck to extend its services nationwide; the likely completion date for the roll out of BreastCheck. [10827/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe national breast screening programme commenced in March 2000 with phase one of the programme covering the Eastern Regional Health Authority, Midland Health Board and the North Eastern Health Board region. Last year, I announced the extension of the BreastCheck programme to Counties Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford and also the national-roll out to the southern and western counties. The national roll-out of BreastCheck requires detailed planning to include essential infrastructure.
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 North Riding. 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 South Riding.
Two project teams, one in each region, have been established to develop briefs for the capital infrastructure needed for the static units in the south and west. Regarding the southern region, the south infirmary considered it necessary to commission a site strategy study to ensure the integration of the breast screening service into the present and future development of the hospital. My Department made available a capital grant of €230,000 for the study to be undertaken by professional architectural, engineering and quantity surveying experts. This study is now complete and was submitted to my Department at the end of March. It is being examined at present. As regards the west, BreastCheck submitted a number of options for the construction of a static unit on the grounds of University College Hospital, Galway. This is being considered by my Department in the context of the framework for capital investment 2004-08.
An essential element of the roll out of the programme is investment in education and training of radiographers. BreastCheck employs qualified and experienced radiographers who have specialised postgraduate training and qualifications related to mammography. BreastCheck and the symptomatic breast cancer services combined have a significant ongoing recruitment and training requirement in this area. I have announced the development of a training centre for radiographers and mammography at Eccles Street. Resources are being made available to BreastCheck to support this initiative which will cost in excess of €750,000 and is expected to be completed in the second half of 2004.
