Fine Gael Limerick TD, Patrick O’Donovan, has today (Wednesday) welcomed confirmation from the Minister for Health, James Reilly TD, that the national bowel cancer screening programme will be introduced on a phased basis from the end of this year. Deputy O’Donovan raised the issue in a Parliamentary Question to the Minister.
“Bowel cancer accounts for almost 1,000 deaths in Ireland every year. The introduction of a national screening programme has been delayed on a number of occasions, but I am glad to receive confirmation from the Minister for Health that roll-out will begin in the final quarter of this year, delivering on a Government commitment to introduce bowel cancer screening in 2012.
“Screening for bowel cancer has proven to be effective on two fronts; it provides early detection and therefore earlier and more effective treatment, and it helps to prevent cancer in the first place by detecting pre-cancerous growths such as polyps. In other words, the screening programme will save the lives of many of those with cancer, and it will prevent others from getting the disease in the first place.
“Under the programme, free screening will be offered to men and women aged 55-74 every two years. As 50% of cancers within this age group are found in people aged 60-69, the programme will begin with this age cohort. This accounts for about half a million people. The programme will also be the first to include screening for men.
“I understand that planning is well underway within the HSE’s National Cancer Screening Service to ensure the right services are in place to support the introduction and expansion of the screening programme. Minister Reilly has said the focus will be on improving quality and access at all publicly-funded screening colonoscopy units, not just for those referred for colonoscopy as part of the screening programme, but for all men and women who require a colonoscopy or any other diagnostic endoscopic procedure.
“Fifteen candidate colonoscopy units have been identified around the country to support the screening programme and an academic partner has been identified to provide training to clinical nurse specialists.
“The introduction of bowel cancer screening is a very important advancement in our fight against cancer, and I am confident that it will lead to a reduction in cases and an increase in survival rates over the coming years.”