"Breastcheck is HSE's national free breast screening service for those aged between 50 and 69. Last year, the service target was for 195,000 people to be screened, but it performed only 137,134 checks. Meanwhile, the target for 2023 was to screen 185,000 people, whereas Breastcheck performed 166,532 screenings. In response to these figures, the HSE told RTÉ that the screening service is affected by a global shortage of radiology staff."
"A spokesperson for HSE said: "Despite these pressures, we are expanding capacity." They added; "Recruiting new consultants and radiographers, adding mobile units, upgrading our IT system and using new technology such as text reminders." However, the uptake of screening remains high, they said, with an uptake of 72pc in 2024, against the programme standard of 70pc. It comes as the programme was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the service paused for months across 2020 and 2021."
Breastcheck provides free breast screening for people aged 50 to 69. Targets of 195,000 (most recent year) and 185,000 (2023) were not met, with 137,134 and 166,532 checks respectively. The service is affected by a global shortage of radiology staff. Capacity is being expanded through recruitment of consultants and radiographers, addition of mobile units, IT system upgrades, and use of new technology such as text reminders. Screening uptake reached 72pc in 2024, above the 70pc programme standard. The programme experienced pauses during 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately 3,500 new breast cancer cases are diagnosed annually in Ireland.
Read at Irish Independent
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