1,300 miss breast cancer targets

MORE than 1,300 women with suspected breast cancer were not referred to the appropriate specialist service within the recommended two-week timeframe set down by the independent health watchdog.

Health Service Executive (HSE) figures show that between January and November last year, 13% of 9,894 “urgent” cases were not seen within a fortnight as recommended by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).

The figures also show that of 19,708 non-urgent cases, 3,432 women were not referred to breast cancer symptomatic services within the 12-week recommended timeframe. This represents 17% of the total.