Breastcheck moves to quell cancer scandal fears

BREASTCHECK, the national breast cancer screening service, has moved to reassure women in light of the current controversies over cancer testing and health funding.

The organisation, which screened almost 60,000 women last year, has taken out advertisements in all national newspapers today stating that its services are not affected by the difficulties and that appointments will be honoured as normal.

A number of extra staff were recruited recently and are undergoing training in preparation for the ongoing expansion of services. A spokesperson said the personnel would be taking up their positions as planned despite the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) shock blanket ban on new recruitment and deferral of existing job offers.

The fallout from scares over the reliability of breast cancer testing at Barringtons Hospital in Limerick and the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise continued yesterday as patient groups and medical professionals called for action on Government plans to improve breast cancer services.

Cancer expert Professor Niall O’Higgins, who chaired a government-appointed group that produced a plan for the reorganisation of services in 2000, said the problems could have been avoided had the plan been implemented.

It proposed creating 12-13 regional cancer units, each with the full range of specialist diagnostic and treatment services and treating about 150 breast cancer patients a year. Currently there are more than 30 centres providing services and some seeing less than 20 patients a year.

Mr O’Higgins said patients had up to a 20% improved survival rate if treated in specialist multi-disciplinary units.

He said investment in services had been “ad hoc and haphazard” and he was concerned at the HSE’s moratorium on recruitment across all health services.

A review of about 5,000 patient files has begun at the Midland Regional Hospital and negotiations are underway to agree a format for a review at Barringtons Hospital. An inquiry is also taking place at a lab at University College Hospital Galway where tests from Barringtons were incorrectly read.

Breast cancer services at the Portlaoise and Limerick hospitals have been suspended and the Health Information and Quality Authority, is to begin a nationwide review of all breast cancer services to ensure facilities are complying with the recommended “triple assessment” where all tests are jointly considered by a radiologist, surgeon and pathologist before a diagnosis is made.

Breast cancer campaign group, Europa Donna, called for the review results to be made public.

The organisation is to run a series of regional information sessions on breast cancer risks, symptoms, services and supports. Full details will be on their website, www.europadonnaireland.com.