Annual Report 2004: Chairperson's Statement
- 2004 was a year of continued progress for BreastCheck as detailed in the Director's Report and the Programme Statistics. The Board was very happy that women in Wexford were invited for screening for the first time.
- 2005 has seen the Board's plans for the expansion of screening to the South and West of the country becoming a reality. The expansion is of vital importance and following approval from the Tánaiste and Minster for Health and Children Mary Harney TD in May 2005, a design team has been appointed and designs have been developed. The process of appointing key staff has now also begun.We look forward to commencing screening in the South and West in 2007.
Since publication of our last Annual Report, the National Breast Screening Board has been re-established as part of the health service reform programme. The Board was not subsumed into the Health Service Executive (HSE). A new statutory instrument led to the appointment of a new Board with effect from 1st January 2005.
I thank all members of the first Board of BreastCheck for their contribution to the programme. They have played a key role in guiding the programme through its early stages of development. The new Board is a mixture of former and new members. I am delighted to have been asked to continue in my role as Chairperson. I am confident that the high level of expertise on the new Breast Screening Board will guide the programme safely in its national expansion.
The programme has been well supported both by the former Minister for Health and Children, Micheál Martin TD and by the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney TD, who has expressed her strong commitment to BreastCheck becoming operational as a fully national service in 2007.
I offer a warm thanks to the staff of BreastCheck under the leadership of the Director, Tony O'Brien. They show great pride in belonging to an organisation that continues to be a model of excellence within the health service.
I would also like to thank the many supporters of BreastCheck in primary healthcare, community organisations and the media who play a vital role in supporting the uptake of screening, but lastly and most importantly, the women who avail of the screening programme.
Dr. Sheelah Ryan
Chairperson, National Breast Screening Board.
(from the Annual Report 2004)
BreastCheck Programme Statistics 2004
Download full Annual Report 2004: bc_areport04.pdf (.pdf file 850 kb, 56 pages)