Breast cancer screening service restored
A BREAST cancer screening service which was controversially halted, forcing women to endure a 160-mile round trip for follow-up care, is soon to be restored, the Irish Independent has learned.
Fine Gael TD John Perry is set to announce today that he has successfully lobbied Taoiseach Enda Kenny to restore the mammography X-Ray service for breast cancer patients in the SligoLeitrim area.
Mr Perry said he had been originally promised it would be restored 100 days after the last election but this was reneged on.
“I wrote to the Taoiseach last December and outlined the urgency to provide this surveillance service and alleviate the necessity for women to travel to the already crowded unit in Galway hospital instead,” he said.
“I am relieved that a tender is now issued for a Sligo hospital based mobile mammography follow-up service for the Sligo-Leitrim area.”
The tender for the service closes at the end of December and the service should be restored early next year.
In his letter to the Taoiseach, Mr Perry said its restoration was an ongoing commitment and he would not take “no” for an answer.
He said he hoped Health Minister Leo Varadkar would be “decisive” in this issue.
The service will be provided on the grounds of Sligo Regional Hospital. It will operate under the guidance of Galway University Hospital to ensure quality control and safety.
The X-Ray images will be read by experienced staff in Galway.