Annual Report 2006/2007: Chairperson's Statement
Welcome to the 2006/2007 Annual Report of BreastCheck – the National Breast Screening Programme. This Report outlines Programme performance data for BreastCheck in 2006 and other significant developments up tothe time of publication in November 2007.
Following the publication of a Strategy for Cancer Control in Ireland 2006, the National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) was established by the Minister for Health and Children in January 2007. The National Cancer Screening Service currently encompasses BreastCheck – the National Breast Screening Programme and the Irish Cervical Screening Programme. I am delighted to have been invited to chair the NCSS Board.
The NCSS is preparing for the establishment androll out of a National Cervical Screening Programmein 2008 and has established an Expert Group toexamine the potential effectiveness of a colorectal screening programme.
The progress made by BreastCheck in the last 12months has been immense. Since the publication o four last Annual Report, two new static screening unitshave been built in Galway and Cork. In addition, seven state of the art digital mobile screening units have been commissioned in preparation for the nationa lexpansion of BreastCheck into the West and South. Indeed screening has already commenced in the West with the location of a mobile unit in Roscommon.
I wish to thank all members of the National Cancer Screening Service Board for their invaluable contribution and dedication to BreastCheck’s aim of reducing the number of deaths from breast cancer in Ireland through early detection and treatment. TheProgramme Statistics demonstrate the role BreastCheck has played in women’s lives and as we expand nationwide we can fulfil our commitments by offering the benefits of BreastCheck to women in theSouth and West of the country.
I would like to thank the Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney T.D.and her officials, for their ongoing support and assistance in bringing BreastCheck nationwide.
I am immensely proud of the staff of BreastCheck who made the expansion a reality and wish to particularly thank our CEO Tony O’Brien for his commitment to the Programme.
There are many more supporters of BreastCheck who play a pivotal role in raising awareness of the service, encouraging women to participate and increasing uptake, namely primary healthcare workers, the media and community organisations. Finally, I wish to thank the 63,000 women who accepted their invitations and availed of BreastCheck in 2006. Their response has enabled us to improve the outcomes for women whose screening has identified breast cancer.
Dr. Sheelah Ryan
Chairperson, National Breast Screening Board.
(from the Annual Report 2006/2007)
BreastCheck Programme Statistics 2006 (to come soon as html file)
Download full Annual Report 2006/2007:
English (.pdf file 1,568 kb, 36 pages - A4 format) BC-areport0607eng.pdf
Irish (.pdf file 1,447 kb, 36 pages - A4 format) BC-areport0607irish.pdf