BreastCheck Program Fails to Meet Screening Targets by Thousands

The HSE’s BreastCheck programme has significantly fallen short of its breast cancer screening targets, with tens of thousands of women missing out on crucial checks. In 2023, the goal was to screen 200,000 women, but only 170,000 are projected to be screened, marking a shortfall of nearly 30,000 women. This follows a similar trend in the previous year, where the target of 195,000 screenings was missed by approximately 30%.

These figures were disclosed in a report to Peadar Tóibín, the leader of Aontú. Averil Power, head of the Irish Cancer Society, expressed deep concern over these statistics during an interview with RTÉ, indicating that the organization is “seriously alarmed” but not surprised. She noted that the delay in screening is contributing to later-stage cancer diagnoses among women.

BreastCheck typically offers free screenings to women aged 50 to 69 every two years. However, Power highlighted that many women are now being called for their screenings at ages 52 or 53, rather than at 50. Furthermore, approximately one in two women already in the programme are being recalled every three years instead of the recommended two, a change that has significant implications for early detection.

Power emphasized the critical nature of timely screenings, stating, “For Stage 1, 99% of women will survive breast cancer. At Stage 4, that figure plummets to 37%.” She also pointed out that underfunding is a pervasive issue affecting all areas of cancer care, noting that last year, one in four women referred to rapid access clinics for breast cancer symptoms did not receive timely appointments. Additionally, one in three breast cancer patients did not have their surgeries performed on schedule.

A spokesperson for the HSE confirmed that the BreastCheck programme is set to miss its targets for the third consecutive year in 2025. In the first half of 2025, approximately 80,000 women received breast screening, but the forecast remains below the target. The spokesperson said, “We are focusing on those at higher risk, those waiting longest, and women in communities who may find it harder to access screening.”

The spokesperson also noted that the number of women eligible for BreastCheck has increased by 19% over the past six years, now exceeding 625,000. Efforts to expand capacity include recruiting additional consultants and radiographers, adding mobile units, and enhancing the IT system. New technologies, such as text reminders and the HSE Health App, are also being utilized.

BreastCheck Chief Executive Fiona Murphy acknowledged the challenges faced by the programme, attributing the inability to meet screening targets to the growing number of women in the 50 to 69 age group and a global shortage of radiographers. She stated, “While we have recruited a number of staff in the last few years, this is a global issue and it’s not just us.”

In light of these ongoing challenges, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health, announced that she has instructed the National Screening Service to devise an action plan aimed at increasing the number of mammograms conducted in the coming months. However, David Cullinane, health spokesperson for Sinn Féin, criticized this plan as insufficient, asserting that comprehensive action has been overdue.

This situation underscores the critical need for increased investment in cancer services to ensure timely screenings and effective treatment for women across the country. The impact on women’s health due to missed screenings cannot be overstated, and immediate action is required to address these alarming statistics.