BREASTCHECK OFFICIALLY OPENS TWO NEW SCREENING UNITS
- 17 December 2007
Minister Harney Launches BreastCheck New Units.
Monday 17 December, 2007 - The Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney T.D. today officially opened two new BreastCheck units – the Western Unit in Galway and the Southern Unit in Cork. The new units, with state of the art digital equipment, and a number of mobile units will facilitate a free breast screening service to in excess of 140,000 women living in the South and West and screening from both new units has already commenced.
The BreastCheck Southern Unit is located in Cork on the campus of South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital and the Western Unit is based in Galway at the rear of the University College Hospital campus.
BreastCheck provides a free breast screening service for eligible women aged 50-64 on a two yearly cycle. The BreastCheck service is a quality assured, population based screening programme that operates using multi-disciplinary teams with specialist expertise in the areas of breast screening, cancer detection and treatment.
Following the initial screening period, mobile screening units will be introduced on an area by area basis. The BreastCheck programme is designed to offer repeat screening within an interval of 21-27 months. The total screening population in the South is an estimated 71,188 women (or 35,594 per annum) and in the West 57,588 women (or 28,794 per annum). Accordingly, the first round of screening is expected to take approximately 27 months to complete.
Mr. Tony O'Brien, Chief Executive of the National Cancer Screening Service commented: "Since the Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney T.D. gave her approval for the capital expansion programme in May 2005 major progress has been made. While we are delighted to officially open two new purpose-built screening units today, BreastCheck remains committed to the earliest possible provision of screening to women in all counties in the expansion area.
"A total of seven digital mobile screening units have been commissioned and plans are at an advanced stage to introduce them to new screening areas on a phased basis over the coming months. BreastCheck encourages all women invited for a free mammogram (breast x-ray) to avail of this valuable opportunity to look after their health".
Screening schedules at mobile units are dictated by operational considerations, taking into account a number of issues including the most efficient use of mobile units, the most effective use of radiographers, the efficient use of screening units and maximising uptake of the service among women.
To facilitate the expansion, over 100 staff have been employed in the West and the South. Women can find more information, register for BreastCheck, or check that they are on the register at www.breastcheck.ie or by calling freephone 1800 45 45 55.
Further Information
For further information contact Sheila Caulfield, Head of Communications, National Cancer Screening Service, Tel: 01 865 9312 / 087 637 5131.