Radiography places need to be increased
Deputy Wilkinson said the warning from the director of BreastCheck Ireland, Tony O’Brien, that a shortage of radiographers may impede the future development of BreastCheck should prompt efforts to open more of our third-level colleges to X-ray training.
“Currently, the only third-level institution in the Republic to offer a degree courses in diagnostic radiography is University College Dublin. The college takes in just 40 students annually since the new medical centre was opened in the past couple of years.
“Surely, as BreastCheck is expanded throughout the southern and western region, it is time to reassess our quota of trained radiographers. We need more than 40 radiography graduates every year. We should not have to reply on graduates from other countries.
“Third-level institutions in Munster offering medical courses should be able to team up with local hospitals to offer certified degrees in radiography to meet the need for more X-ray specialists as BreastCheck comes on stream in June. But it will need a major intervention to create the extra places,” said Deputy Wilkinson.
The Dungarvan-based Fianna Fáil TD said he would be in contact with Health Minister Mary Harney about creating more radiography places in UCD and extending the degree course to other third-level institutions in the southern region. Diagnostic radiography graduates will have to do a diploma course in mammography to work in the BreastCheck service.
“The Government is fulfilling its commitment on the roll-out of BreastCheck.
Builders are expected to be on site in the South Infirmary Victoria Hospital, Cork, by August and the static BreastCheck unit will be completed by June 2007. Mobile units will operate out of Cork and serve Waterford as part of the plan.
“The planned southern clinic, which will include four mobile units, will invite up to 72,000 women for screenings in Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford and Tipperary South,” said Deputy Wilkinson.
