The news today that BreastCheck, the national breast cancer screening programme, is to provide a mobile breast cancer screening unit for women in Roscommon is to be welcomed. However surely it raises the question as to why women in Waterford are once again being ignored for the provision of this essential service. BreastCheck announced today that a new digital mammography mobile screening unit is to be made available in Roscommon prior to the development of a static unit in that area. Following a series of delays, the Minister promised in 2005 that rollout would be completed by 2007. Now the Minister informs us that rollout will only commence in 2007, and not be completed until 2009. All along we were being told that BreastCheck would not be available until the static units were built and the mobile units ready. This news today that BreastCheck will be providing screening for women in Roscommon prior to the development of their static unit proves that women in Waterford continue to suffer needlessly. The failure of the Government to live-up to its own commitment to deliver the BreastCheck roll-out to women in Waterford means their risk of contracting breast cancer is significantly higher than those in other parts of the country. Today I am calling on the Director of BreastCheck Mr Tony O’Brien and the Minister for Health Mary Harney and the local government repesentatives here in Waterford to make this essential service available to women in Waterford immediately.
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