The HSE have confirmed that the BreastCheck Screening Mobile Unit will return to Athlone in August.
“This is good news and I’m delighted that the HSE have confirmed that this important screening service will be back to Athlone from the week commencing August 21.
“The restarting of the breast screening process, post Covid-19, saw women being offered appointments in Tullamore, which was an interim measure, but was not convenient for many and to encourage a good uptake of appointments, it is great that Athlone has been reinstated with a BreastCheck Mobile unit next month.
“If cancer is detected early, statistics show that the outcomes are more favourable and I would like to encourage all women who get their appointments, to keep them and to make full use of this unit now it is back in the local community.
“Funding of €69.2 million has been allocated to Women’s Health across Budget 2023 and this investment will fund a range of measures across several areas including almost €1 million to fund additional Women’s Health Hubs, €3.8 million for screening services including BreastCheck, Cervical Check and the National Cervical Screening Laboratory, €11.5 million for the National Gynaecology Strategy and additional initiatives including Bioethics, National Maternity Hospital operational readiness, reducing the VAT on HRT and measures to address period poverty.
“I raised this issue following concerns from local women who had to travel to Tullamore and am glad that the mammograms will now be facilitated in the returning BreastCheck Mobile Unit in Athlone,” local Minister of State, Deputy Burke stated.
