THE national breast
screening programme BreastCheck has said it has
"firm plans" to roll out its services to Donegal.
Its statement follows an RTE 'Prime Time' programme
last week which made claims to the
contrary.BreastCheck wishes to correct this fact and
provide clarification.
"Based on BreastCheck's national expansion plan
submitted in 2002, and sanctioned by the Department
of Health and Children in May 2005, BreastCheck's
Western and Southern Screening Units will become
operational later this year," said the statement.
"Since receiving sanction, significant and rapid
progress has been made regarding the creation of the
service.
"The Western Screening Unit will serve the
population from Tipperary North to Donegal using a
combination of mobile and fixed screening
facilities. The Western region will cover counties
Galway, Sligo, Roscommon, Donegal, Mayo, Leitrim,
Clare and Tipperary North Riding."
BreastCheck invites women aged 50-64 for a free
mammogram on an area-by-area basis, every two years.
BreastCheck, which says its budget is "fully
committed", is not part of the Health Service
Executive and is therefore not affected by the
temporary suspension in the appointment of staff.
A recruitment drive for BreastCheck staff is
underway and up to 50 staff will be employed in the
West. Staff recruited to date include clinical
directors, consultant radiologists, consultant
surgeons and consultant histopathologists, all with
a special interest in breast disease. Administration
and radiography staff have also been appointed.
The BreastCheck statement continued: "Whilst an
exact screening date cannot be provided for the
women in Donegal, we wish to provide assurance again
that clear plans are underway and that BreastCheck
is committed to the earliest possible provision of
quality assured screening in the Western area as
quickly as possible.
"It is incorrect to suggest that no work has been
done to provide for this service or indeed no plan
in place." |
