HL Deb 31 January 1989 vol 503 cc1079-80WA
Lord Blease

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish details of progress in Northern Ireland on the proposed programme of breast cancer screening facilities, with particular reference to:

  1. (a) the numbers of static and mobile mammography units currently available;
  2. (b) the number of trained personnel in post to provide adequate diagnosis, treatment, counselling and care services; and,
  3. (c) the number of women under 50 years, and the number of women aged between 50 and 64, in each of the last three years, who have had mammography screening in each of the Health Board areas of Northern Ireland.

Lord Lyell

The new breast screening service should be available throughout Northern Ireland by the end of 1990. As in the rest of the United Kingdom, this service is being introduced on a phased basis. It is due to start in May next at a static unit in the Eastern Board. Services from further static units are expected to commence in the Western Board in Autumnm 1989 and in the Northern and Southern Boards at six-monthly intervals thereafter. Mobile units, which may be shared between boards, will be used as necesary. One such unit is being purchased later this year for use initially in the eastern area. The additional short periods of training needed by staff such as radiographers and radiologists will be arranged by each board close to the time the service is due to start.

Breast screening, as distinct from mammography for diagnostic purposes, has not hitherto been available from the health services; information is not available on the number of women who have undergone screening provided by others.