Donegal Deputy Charlie McConalogue has accused the Minister for Health James Reilly of breaking yet another promise to patients by failing to extend the BreastCheck programme as promised.
Minister Reilly has confirmed to Fianna Fáil through a Parliamentary Question that he will not extend the BreastCheck Programme to women aged 65 – 69 this year.
Deputy McConalogue has said it’s the latest in a long list of broken promises to patients.
“This can be added to the ever-growing list of broken promises from the Health Minister James Reilly. He gave a clear commitment in the last general election campaign that he would extend BreastCheck beyond the age of 64. That was three years ago and the Minister has done absolutely nothing about it,” the Donegal Deputy said.
“The BreastCheck Programme is crucial in the detection and treatment of breast cancer. At the moment, it provides free mammograms to all women age 50 – 64. This has vastly improved breast cancer survival rates due to a combined approach of screening, symptomatic detection and improved treatment.
“Breast cancer five year survival is now estimated at 81.8% for people diagnosed between 2003 and 2007. That’s up from 76.8% for people diagnosed between 1992 and 1998. Uptake of the programme has increased in the 50 – 64 year age group from 128,800 in 2012 to 144,000 in 2013.
“In view of the success of the programme for those between age 50 and 64, it is now vital that the Minister keeps his promise to women and extends the programme to cover those aged 65 – 69 in line with his commitment before the election.
“Patients in Donegal and across the North West region have seen community health services slashed right, left and centre over the past three years. They were promised by Fine Gael that BreastCheck would be extended. I am now calling on our local Fine Gael Deputies to ensure that their colleague Minister Reilly keeps that promise.”
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