Data released by the HSE to the Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD shows that over 100,000 fewer women were screened for breast cancer in 2020 than were screened in 2019. Deputy Tóibín has called for urgent investments to make up for the pandemic shortfalls.
Deputy Tóibín said:
“The HSE have today confirmed to me that a mere 56,000 women were screened in Breast Check clinics last year, compared with 170,000 in 2019. Breast Check screening was paused between March and October 2020, the decision to pause screening was made by the HSE and supported 100% by the government. I was almost a lone voice in the Dáil in my criticisms of this decision.
“Cancer is itself a pandemic – while it was understandable that the government take steps to halt the spread of Covid-19, they should never have paused or cancelled cancer screening, diagnostic services or treatments. How many women will die as a result of the decision to pause screening?” he asked.
“As I know myself – with any cancer early diagnosis and timely treatment is key to increasing survival rates. The National Screening Service, in their letter to me, have said that they are a year behind on screening appointments.
He said the NSS had written: “appointments in this screening round are delayed by up to a year. This means that if a woman was due to be screened in 2020, we are aiming to invite her in 2021; if she was due to be screened in 2021, we will now aim to invite her in 2022”.
Deputy Tóibín continued: “This is very alarming, we need to be on top of cancer, detecting it early and treating it early – the idea that the screening system is lagging a year behind on where it should be, thanks to the decisions taken by this government, is scandalous. The government must now significantly invest in the screening service, and in cancer services in general, and increase staffing and capacity, so that we can fight this expected wave of cancer diagnosis head on”, concluded Tóibín.