Breast screening service hit by staff shortages

A TARGET of offering all eligible woman a free X-ray to check for breast cancer every two years was not met in 2010, as the BreastCheck service was hit by a shortage of staff.

Majella Byrne, acting director of the National Cancer Screening Service, said: “Providing timely admission has proved challenging at times.

“BreastCheck is working closely with its host hospitals to develop a service response to address this issue.” Dr Ann O’Doherty, lead clinical director, said that more than 95pc of women who had a cancer detected were diagnosed prior to any surgery, usually by core biopsy at the assessment clinic. (Independent) >