Concerns expressed as women in Mayo continue to be left without breast screening services
The suspension of the Castlebar mammogram service, along with long gaps between BreastCheck visits to the county, has created a double disadvantage for women in Mayo.
They have been left facing longer waits for screening, extra travel for appointments, and heightened anxiety about delays in detecting potential breast cancer.
Access to mammogram services is facing significant disruption, following the suspension of the service at the Primary Care Centre in Castlebar earlier this year due to the retirement of the radiographer.
The HSE has said at moment, the service will not resume until early 2026.
The issue was raised at a recent HSE West Regional Health Forum meeting by Cllr Michael Kilcoyne, who said the lack of a local service is "causing a severe inconvenience to the women in Mayo."
Mary Warde, Integrated Health Area Manager for Mayo, explained that the successful candidate recruited to replace the retired radiographer is currently on maternity leave, and not due to take up the post until 2026.
In the meantime, efforts to fill the post temporarily have been unsuccessful; however, the job is being re-advertised, and considerations for hiring through a temporary agency are being explored.
Ms Warde said that there had also been discussions with BreastCheck to see if there was any way for them to assist in providing clinics in Mayo, but said this had also been unsuccessful so far.
Cllr Kilcoyne then raised the issue of the BreastCheck service not being available in Mayo for some time.
"It's a brilliant service, but I'm just concerned and the people are concerned that because we don't live in Galway, we are neglected a little bit," he said.
There are permanent BreastCheck facilities in Galway, Dublin and Cork.
In order to maximise the number of women the service can help, there are also 24 mobile clinics around the country. They visit different areas and can stay in a single location for between three months and two years.
There was a BreastCheck screening in Ballina from August 2023 to May 2025 and in Castlebar from 2023 to April 2024. Screening is to be resumed in Castlebar before the end of the year.
In response to Cllr Kilcoyne's concerns, the National Screening Service acknowledged the difficulties and outlined steps being taken to improve access.
"We are facing several challenges that mean some women face a delay in being called for breast screening," they said.
Steps being taken to improve the service include expanding the workforce. Since 2023, recruitment of new consultants and senior radiographers has been ongoing, and additional funding is available for further recruitment in 2025.
Training places are being increased, and international recruitment campaigns are underway. The service has also added three new mobile screening units since 2020, with further expansion planned as staffing and funding allow.
Alongside staffing and capacity measures, investment is being made in technology. A new patient database, launched in 2024, is freeing up staff time for direct patient care, while a pilot project using AI is being prepared to boost efficiency and quality.
Efforts are also being made to ensure no appointment slot goes unused, with text reminders and booking details now sent via the HSE Health App.
The service said it is prioritising access for women at higher risk, those waiting longest, newly eligible women, and those from marginalised groups who may face barriers to screening.
Delays were attributed to several factors, including the impact of Covid-19, as screening time was lost and some women had to wait longer than the standard two years.
As well, population growth has seen more women becoming eligible for the service while staffing levels have increased to meet the demand.
Global shortages of radiographers have added to the pressure, while missed appointments also reduce capacity, with almost half of the women invited for their first mammogram failing to attend.
They said that any women in Mayo who had been unable to take up a previous screening appointment when the service was in the area could contact BreastCheck Western Unit, and they would aim to find the most suitable date, place, and time for them to attend.
They reminded women of the importance of being breast aware. They urged that women should familiarise themselves with what is normal for their own breasts, so that any unusual change can be detected early.
Health experts say early detection greatly increases the chances of successful treatment, and recommend that women check their breasts regularly, ideally once a month.
Cllr Kilcoyne's concerns follow figures released in August, which showed BreastCheck missed its national screening targets for two consecutive years.
In 2024, the HSE fell short by 35.8pc, carrying out 137,134 screenings compared to a target of 195,000. In 2023, the service missed the target by 10.5pc, with 166,532 screenings completed out of a target of 185,000.
The HSE attributed the shortfall to a global shortage of radiology staff.
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.