Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 6 September 2019
897. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health the ages of women having their first BreastCheck appointment; the number of women offered subsequent appointments at two year intervals; the geographical participation levels in BreastCheck; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35166/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraBreastCheck, the National Breast Screening Programme, currently offers routine breast screening to women aged 50 to 67 every two years. The programme is being extended on a phases basis to all eligible women aged 50 to 69 and this extension will be completed by the end of 2021.
The following table (from the latest programme report for BreastCheck 2016-2017), shows the number of women screened by age group for those attending BreastCheck for the first time in 2016.
|
Screening Age |
Number of Women |
|
50-54 |
22,075 |
|
55-59 |
1,238 |
|
60-64 |
616 |
|
65+ |
104 |
The programme report also indicates that over 50% of women were re-invited for subsequent screening within 24 months of invitation at previous round, while 80% were re-invited within 27 months.
As indicated in the following table, uptake rates in all counties surpassed the standard of 70% during the period of the report.
|
Uptake Rate |
Counties |
|
70% to <80% |
Carlow, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Mayo, Meath, Offaly, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath |
|
80% to <90% |
Cavan, Louth, Monaghan, Roscommon, Wexford, Wicklow |
|
90%+ |
Kilkenny |
