The HSE’s National Breast Screening Programme, BreastCheck, has missed its screening targets for two years in a row, according to new figures released to Peadar Tóibín TD. Over 75,000 women were not screened as intended under the programme.
The figures, released in response to a parliamentary question, show that the service performed 137,134 checks in 2024, falling below the target for 195,000 screenings. In 2023, the target was food 185,000 screenings, but 166,532 checks were carried out.
Last month, Deputy Tóibín had submitted a question to the Minister for Health regarding the number of people screened for cancer in the State in each of the past ten years; the types of cancer screened for; and the annual screening target in each of those years.
BreastCheck, the National Breast Screening Programme, currently invites women aged 50 to 69 years at regular intervals to have a mammogram. The Programme for Government has committed to extend the ages for the BreastCheck screening programme in line with updated standards from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).
Each year in Ireland, almost 3,600 women and approximately 30 men are diagnosed with breast cancer. While it is more common in women over 50, it can affect younger women too.
The Aontú leader said that the fall in cancer screening would lead to increased incidents of cancer, advanced cancers and deaths, saying that screening is a life saving service and that cuts will have tragic consequences.
The Meath TD said in a statement:
“Incredibly the number of women being screened under Breast Check has fallen. In 2019 170,957 women were screened. Last year that number had fallen to 137,134. 20% fewer women were screened for cancer last year than just before the Covid Crisis. Indeed the figures for last year are 5% lower than ten years ago despite the population increase.
“The government is not even meeting their own targets. The number of women screened for breast cancer was 30% fewer than the government’s own target last year. This is a major failure even by the government’s own standards.
“The number of Cervical Check screens also collapsed last year. In 2017 260,000 women received Cervical cancer screening. Last year the figure was 194,884. That’s a fall of 64,215 women screened. Incredibly it’s a 24% collapse in the numbers of women receiving Cervical check screening. Again the government are reducing their own targets. This points to serious delivery problems.
“Fewer screenings mean fewer cancers caught early, which mean more advanced cancers and tragically a higher chance of death. Given the scandal that has surrounded Cervical check previously it is shocking that the government would allow this life saving system to go through such a reduction in numbers. Bowel screening has fallen too but not by the massive numbers of Breast and Cervical screening in recent years.”
“It is clear that the government largely shut down breast and cervical cancer screening during Covid. We in Aontú protested against this at the time. Cancer is Ireland’s biggest killer causing 10,000 deaths a year. During Covid we demand we demanded that all lifesaving cancer healthcare would continue. I had skin cancer at the time and I could see the dangers facing people.”
“Many of these government decisions during Covid caused great pain and suffering at the time and since. We believe this is why the government has prevented a independent public investigation into the Covid Crisis and have only seen fit to have a ‘review,'” Mr Tóibín said whilst calling for a full Covid Inquiry.
“There is clearly a resource and staffing crisis also affecting the screening programmes. We urge the government to properly staff and invest in the cancer screening programmes now so that lives can be saved,” the Deputy added.
In a response to the figures, the HSE told RTE that the screening service has been affected by a global shortage of radiology staff, and that it had not been able to increase screening numbers to keep up with the growing population.
Last month, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said she was committed to supporting population screening programmes, which she described as a valuable part of the health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people, and improving the overall health of the population. The Minister had been asked by Deputy John McGuinness if she would provide for standardised breast density reporting for women who have mammograms in Ireland.
“With regards to breast density specifically, while some countries have introduced this into their screening programmes, there are significant differences in international clinical opinion on the effective incorporation of standardised notification into breast cancer screening. The recently updated ‘European Commission Initiative on BreastCancer: European guidelines on breast cancer screening and diagnosis’, highlight the low certainty of evidence surrounding the incorporation of breast density measurement into population health screening programmes. This contrasts with the recommendation of the European Society for Breast Imaging (EUSOBI), which recommends that women with extremely dense breast tissue are offered screening with breast MRI,” the Minister said.
“This lack of consensus explains the need for a cautious, evidence-led approach to ensure that any decision serves the best interests of the population and maintains the integrity of the screening programme.”
HIQA have started a review into proposed changes to the BreastCheck programme, with proposals to expand the age range eligibility to those aged 45-49 and 70-74, along with the potential introduction of a standardised breast density measurement.
The Minister, in response to the parliamentary question, said that significant investment continues to be made into national screening programmes, including allocating an additional €2.9 million in full-year costs to BreastCheck for 2025.
Loading ...