BREASTCHECK - EXPANSION INTO THE SOUTH AND WEST
- 15 November 2007
BreastCheck - The National Breast Screening Programme will shortly commence screening eligible women in the South and the West. Construction of both the Southern Screening Unit and the Western Screening Unit is near completion.
The Southern Screening Unit is located in Cork on the campus of South Infirmary Victoria Hospital and the Western Screening Unit is based in Galway at the rear of the University College Hospital campus. Contractors PJ Wall and Sons are responsible for the construction of the Southern Screening Unit in Cork and Contractors JJ Rhatigan & Company Limited carried out the construction of the Western Screening Unit in Galway.
BreastCheck provides a free breast screening service to eligible women aged 50 - 64 by personal invitation on a two yearly cycle. The programme screens systematically on an area-by-area basis in each service area reflecting electoral divisions. Initial screening will begin in December.
In the Southern area eligible women living in Douglas in Cork City and in the Western area eligible women living in Annaghdown, Moycullen, Slieveaneena, Spideal, Tullokyne and Wormhole have already been contacted by BreastCheck. They will be invited for a BreastCheck mammogram in over the coming months commencing in December 2007.
In Cork and Galway, and in all BreastCheck screening areas, the counties are divided into a number of screening areas, based on electoral divisions, and appointments are scheduled accordingly to facilitate organised and efficient screening amongst the large number of women eligible for screening.
Over time the service will be extended to women across Counties Cork and Galway and to other counties in the West and South. Following the initial screening period, mobile screening units will be introduced in individual counties. The total screening population in the South and the West is in excess of 140,000 women and the first round of screening will take approximately 27 months to complete.
Mr. Tony O'Brien, Chief Executive of BreastCheck commented: "BreastCheck is committed to the earliest possible provision of a quality assured screening service to women in all counties in the South and the West. In line with our projected timeline, we are pleased that screening will soon commence".
To facilitate the expansion, over 100 staff will be employed in the West and the South. Recruitment of all medical consultant posts is now complete. The recruitment of other necessary clinical and frontline staff to meet the demands of national expansion is at an advanced stage.
The Service
BreastCheck aims to provide an effective screening service to the highest possible quality standards, so that the maximum number of breast cancers can be detected at the earliest possible stage. BreastCheck aims to reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer in Ireland amongst women aged 50 - 64.
A register (list) of women eligible for screening is compiled from information supplied by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, General Medical Services and health insurance providers. Women are encouraged to check if they are on the BreastCheck register by accessing the website or by calling free phone information line 1800 45 45 55. Women are strongly encouraged to notify BreastCheck with change of details or address by accessing the website or calling the free phone information line.
The Appointment
A BreastCheck screening appointment takes approximately 30 minutes, is not a painful experience for most women and the vast majority of women are found to be perfectly healthy.
Quality Standards
BreastCheck's quality standards are clearly outlined in the BreastCheck Quality Assurance Manual and its Women's Charter. These standards adhere to internationally accepted guidelines. BreastCheck works with a multi-disciplinary team approach to the screening of women involving specialist clinicians, radiographers and breast care nurses. The service includes mammography, diagnosis and primary treatment.
Current Screening
BreastCheck commenced screening in the West in April this year with the deployment of a mobile screening unit in County Roscommon. To date over 1200 women have been screened in the county.
BreastCheck currently provides screening to women in the northeast, east, midlands and parts of the south east of the country through two clinical units (the Eccles Screening Unit adjacent to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and the Merrion Screening Unit adjacent to St.Vincent's University Hospital) and six mobile units. In 2006 over 64,000 women attended BreastCheck screening appointments.
Following national expansion of the breast screening programme, the upper age limit will be extended to women aged 69, in accordance with the European Council's recommendation.
BreastCheck is part of the National Cancer Screening Service
Further Information
Free phone Information line number 1800 45 45 55
Clare Manning / Sheila Caulfield, Communications
Tel: 01 865 9300 / 312