Labour calls for extension of Breastcheck programme
Labour has called for a further extension of the free breast screening programme.
Responding to the Minister for Health's announcement that screening will now occur in three other counties, Labour's spokeswoman on Health, Liz McManus, says hundreds of thousands of women at risk of breast cancer are now being asked to wait again.
The free breast screening programme has still not been rolled out fully nationwide.
"The announcement by the Minister for Health that Breastcheck is to be extended to Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny is to be welcomed for the women in those counties.
"However, this announcement confirms beyond doubt that the Minister has broken his solemn commitment to provide free nationwide breast screening by 2002.
"All of the evidence suggests the Breastcheck programme is a tremendous success. There has been a 73% uptake rate among women invited for screening, which exceeds the target uptake and to the end of June 2002, the programme has exceeded its target for diagnosis of cancer. In other words, the Breastcheck programme is saving lives."
