IT HAS been confirmed that BreastCheck will be operating at a reduced capacity in the first week in January – and Donegal women have been urged to attend for their appointments.
BreastCheck have some measures in place to deal with Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions.
Those were conveyed in a letter to Donegal Action for Cancer Care yesterday. DACC have welcome the news.
“DACC worked hard so hard years ago to ensure Donegal women would have BreastCheck so we need to continue to make sure that women attend when they get an appointment,” Betty Holmes of DACC said.
Some units are temporarily closed due to Covid-19 and BreastCheck say they are working with finite staffing resources nationwide.
“We have therefore made the decision to focus our resources on women within our care who are deemed to be at higher risk at this time,” BreastCheck said in the letter.
“These are women who are in the assessment phase of breast screening. We are asking women scheduled for a follow-up assessment form 4th January to continue to attend on the day and time given.
“For all other women, we aim to continue routine breast screening from 11th January. We will keep this under review and in line with HSE and NPHET advice. We will update our website with any changes to our appointment schedules.”
Women who have booked for routine screening before January 11 will be contacted by their unit and offered a new appointment Women can still travel to screening appointments in another county under current restrictions.
BreastCheck said: “It is taking us longer to screen due to Covid-19 restrictions. We are asking all women to come for their appointment when invited and if they are unable to attend to let us know so we can reschedule their appointment and offer this slot to someone else.
“We ask that people do not attend their appointment if they are unwell of self-isolating because they have symptoms of Covid-19. People should not attend either if they are a confirmed close contact of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.
“The safety of our participants and staff continues to be our highest priority at this time, Breast screening is for well women who do not have symptoms. Any woman who is worried about symptoms during this time should contact their GP for appropriate follow-up care.”
For further information, women can see www.breastcheck.ie ; Freephone 1800 45 45 55 or contact their unit directly on the number provided on their appointment invitation.
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