'Protests hit breast cancer testing'

The National Cancer Screening Service (NCCS) has claimed "false and damaging information" about the BreastCheck service was recently circulated in the Co. Kerry area.

The NCCS has said this occurred as part of a series of public protests that took place about the transfer of breast cancer services from Kerry General Hospital in Tralee to Cork.

It also claimed a significant decline in the number of women attending the local BreastCheck service coincided with these protests rtaking place.

In a briefing note prepared for a meeting of the Oireachtas Health Committee yesterday, the NCCS said the BreastCheck breast cancer testing system was introduced to women living in Co.Kerry from a mobile digital screening unit in May of this year.

"Following initial high attendance rates, the number of women attending their appointments significantly declined. This decrease in attendance coincided with a series of public protests in relation to the removal of symptomatic breast services at Kerry General Hospital," the report states.

As part of the protests, "false and damaging information" about BreastCheck was circulated, according to the NCCS, which runs the BreastCheck programme.

The NCCS pointed out that any initiatives that affect attendance rates to screening can affect the maximum detection of breast cancers, and without an improvement in attendance rates, some breast cancers would go undetected.

The NCCS, in the report, says that BreastCheck subsequently organised a series of briefings with Kerry's public representatives and the GP community at meetings in Dublin and Tralee.

The purpose of the briefings was to raise the issue of low attendance and provide accurate information about the BreastCheck service.

Subsequently, the uptake levels of invitation to screening increased, and have since remained consistently high, the NCCS said.

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[Posted: Thu 22/10/2009]