Since BreastCheck returned to Co Mayo in June 2010 the service has provided free breast screening to approximately 2,500 women living in Castlebar, Westport and surrounding areas from the mobile unit located in the grounds of Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar. This represents a 79 per cent uptake rate of invitations to screening, well in excess of the BreastCheck target uptake of 70 per cent. There will be a short break in screening in the county beginning 19 November. BreastCheck has a commitment to screen women aged 50-64 approximately every two years. The BreastCheck mobile screening unit will return to Castlebar in March 2011 to screen women living in Claremorris, Knock, Kilmaine, Ballyhaunis, Cloghermore and many other surrounding areas.
Once screening of these women is complete, the mobile unit will be moved to Ballina. This is the first time that BreastCheck has provided screening to women from an additional location in the county. By moving the mobile unit to Ballina, women living in Ballina, Belmullet, Crossmolina, Lacken and Attymass and surrounding areas will be provided with easier access to the screening service. BreastCheck advises all women aged 50 to 64 to make sure their name is on the BreastCheck register by calling Freephone 1800 45 45 55 or checking online at www.breastcheck.ie Once on the register and known to the programme, a woman will automatically receive her invitation for a mammogram when BreastCheck is screening in her area.
