Figures provided to Aontú through Parliamentary Question have shown a serious fall in the number of women being screened for Breast and Cervical cancers.
Aontú Clare Representative, June Dillon has expressed concern at the latest figures stating: “Cancer is so prevalent in our society now that I worry when screening is not made available or is not being availed of. We all know of people, families and communities affected by cancer and its tragic consequences”
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 disability and death. During Covid, Aontu protested at the reduction in breast and cervical cancer screening services at the time, which has had a knock on effect on the demand of screening services.
Bowel screening has fallen too but not by the massive numbers of Breast and Cervical screening in recent years.
There is clearly a resource and staffing crisis also affecting the screening programmes. Dillon stated “These programmes are staffed by highly educated and dedicated healthcare workers, that are trying to meet public demand. They are experts in providing the physical and psychological care required by patients. The recruitment freeze has put the staff and services under inordinate pressure. Aontu urge the government to properly staff and invest in the cancer screening programmes now so that lives can be saved”.