Galway researchers make breast-cancer breakthrough

Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - 08:36 AM Courtesy of THe Irish Examiner

Researchers at NUI Galway have made a breakthrough for breast cancer sufferers.
They scientists have found a blood test that can identify how a woman is responding to treatment.
It is also hoped the test could work as an early-warning" system if the illness comes back.
Following more work, it is thought the new test could be in routine use within the next two years.

Interim Director of the National Cancer Control Programme, Professor Tom Keane, told the Oireachtas Health Committee that cancer services at Letterkenny General Hospital were first-rate.
Professor Keane on issues relating to cancer services at Letterkenny General and he said the two surgeons in Letterkenny are excellent and that they are suported by a wonderful team.
“He pointed to the work being done by the oncology nurse in Letterkenny in the administration of chemotherapy. He said she is a model of advanced practice nurse in oncology and the work she is doing represents the future of how chemotherapy will be delivered in this country,”
Professor Keane said that the satellite service in Letterkenny represented a “key component” of the Galway satellite link.
10th November 09

Breast Check comes to Donegal on 5th October 09

Women living in these areas will be screened at a

BreastCheck mobile digital screening unit

in the grounds of Donegal Public Service Centre, Drumlonagher, Donegal.

BALLINTRA , BALLYSHANNON RD, HAUGH
BALLINTRA , DONEGAL RD, INVER

BALLYSHANNON LOUGH EASK BINBANE PETTIGOE BONNYGLEN TANTALLION
BUNDORAN URBAN TAWNAWULLY
BUNDORAN RURAL TEMPLECARN
CARRICKBOY TULLYNAUGH CAVANGARDEN CLIFF CLOGHER CORKEMORE DONEGAL DUNKINEELY EANYMORE GROUSEHALL
Women living in Donegal town and areas surrounding Donegal town will begin receiving letters from BreastCheck with information about breast screening. Following this, women will automatically receive an appointment by post, giving a minimum of seven days notice of their appointment. BreastCheck advises all women aged 50 to 64 to check that they are on the BreastCheck register. Once on the register and known to the Programme, women will automatically receive a BreastCheck appointment.

Women can check that they are on the register by calling Freephone 1800 45 45 55 or checking online at www.breastcheck.ie.

Breast Centre North West

( Breast Cancer Unit) at

Letterkenny General Hospital.

Letterkenny General Hospital an excellent guide for patients booklet for those visiting the Symptomatic Breast Clinic. It includes practical information on what happens at the clinic. It is available from the LGH. This booklet was prepared by the National Cancer Control Programme in consultation with health care professionals and peoplae who have attended a symptomatic breast service.

The unit/clinic is fully up and running and includes digital mammography and ultrasound equipment, provided by the Breast Check programme. It is staffed by the Consultant Surgeon, Oncologist, Radiologist and Breast Care Nurses. Sean Murphy, the hospital's General Manager says staff are committed to the development of breast cancer services in Donegal, in conjunction with the region's designated Cancer Centre at University College Hospital, Galway. "We are determined to ensure that our patients' experience of the breast service here is first class and I believe that our new unit is an important step in that effort." Dec.08

Subsidised air travel available to medical card owners
MARY Nolan, the spokesperson for the Inishowen Cancer Support Group, wants to see more Inishowen cancer patients avail of the daily subsidised shuttle service between the City of Derry and Dublin Airports.
Nolan, a volunteer with the Inishowen Cancer Support Group, is concerned that not enough people are aware of the service and she is encouraging cancer patients in Inishowen to contact her directly if they would like to book a place on the aeroplane.
“This is a great service. For just €25.40 cancer sufferers who have access to a medical card can get a return flight to Dublin. The flight takes just 55 minutes, compared to around four hours on the bus,” she said.
The service, which is subsidised by the HSE, has been running for a decade now but Nolan believes that more people could be taking advantage of it.
“This service has been up and running for around ten years now, but we in the Inishowen Cancer Support Group feel that it’s time to remind local people that it’s there,” said Nolan, who added that most people heard about the service via word of mouth.
Cancer patients routinely have to travel to Dublin hospitals such as Beaumont and St Luke’s for radiotherapy and other treatment, which can leave them weakened or feeling sick.
In such cases a round trip of at least eight hours by road can be tough to take, which is why Nolan believes the flight option is such a godsend.
“A lot of cancer patients need to go up to Dublin each week for radiotherapy treatment. They may have to travel up on a Monday morning and many need to come back on Friday nights. They may find it easier of they take the plane from Eglinton.
“I know that there may be a few older people that do not want to travel on a small aeroplane, but for a lot of other cancer patients this service is much better than travelling to Dublin by road,” said Nolan who have in the past left flyers advertising the service at GP’s surgerys around the peninsula.
“The only criteria is that you must have a medical card in order to get the flight for €25.40,” she added.
If you think you, or someone in your family who is receiving treatment for cancer might like wish to travel on this service to Dublin you should get in touch with Nolan. Her home number is 9383072. She can also be reached by mobile 0866068757. (Inishowen Independent)
30.07.09 Courtesy of www.inishowennews.com

Donegal Action for Cancer Care
News release Friday 3rd July 09

 
 DACC visit Breast Check Western Unit

A delegation from DACC on the invitation of Mr Tony O’ Brien CEO Breast Check travelled on the 2nd July to see first hand the services provided by Breast Check Western Unit.The group initially visited the mobile Breast Check unit in Tubbercurry, which is of a type that will be used in County Donegal with the roll out of Breast Check.

Mrs Joan Raftery Radiography Services Manager and Dr Aideen Larke Clinical Director Breast Check Western Unit travelled up from Galway to Tubbercurry to meet DACC to explain in detail the operations of the mobile unit.

Two professional specially trained Radiographers in Mammography operate the Mammogram unit. The unit is capable of screening 50 to 70 patients a day. On viewing the mobile unit in Tubbercurry DACC were taken through the Mammography process. We were impressed by the state of the art equipment and found the environment to be welcoming, non intimidating and relaxed.Mammograms taken on any given day are transmitted to the main centre in Galway that night or the following morning where they are read.

Results of mammograms are sent back to clients in a strictly stated time frame as laid out by Breast Check.

From Tubbercurry DACC proceeded to the Breast Check Western Unit in Galway with Aideen and Joan. The staff from the Breast Check Western Unit met DACC where they were brought through the diagnostic process and stages in detail. The mammography reading process was explained in detail including the fact that each mammogram is read twice by two radiographers independently. Results are crosschecked to ensure quality. For the majority of women this is the end of the process. In the event of abnormal results patients are given an appointment in the Breast Centre in again in the strictly stated time frame as laid out by Breast Check. Additional diagnostics are carried out and in some cases where appropriate surgery.

While DACC were impressed by the equipment, services and treatments DACC’s ambition is to have the same state of the art services provided at Letterkenny General Hospital for the people of Donegal given our unique geographical circumstances.

DACC would like to thank Dr Aideen Lark, Mrs Joan Raftery, Jenny and staff at the Breast Check Western unit and to Mr Tony O’ Brien, CEO for facilaiting this worthwhile fact-finding briefing.

For DACC this was an important milestone in securing for the women of Donegal services approximating what exists in the rest of the country. 

Donegal Action for Cancer Care welcome the ICS offer of funding to Bowel Screening Programme

Irish Cancer Society offers funding towards rollout of Bowel Cancer Screening Programme:
Society welcomes NCSS and HIQA report and seeks early delivery of urgent screening programme
(Wednesday 17th June @ 1.30pm) The Irish Cancer Society has confirmed that it has participated in initial discussions with the DoHC about the possibility of providing some funding towards the cost of the initial rollout of a bowel cancer screening programme.
The Society has also confirmed that it will now engage with HIQA in the design of a proposal for the rollout of a national Bowel Cancer Screening Service, to be completed by September 2009. This follows the announcement by the Minister for Health today that she has asked HIQA to report to her on how a national bowel screening programme could be delivered within existing resources, as soon as possible.
“The decision by the Board of the Irish Cancer Society to provide some funding towards the cost of the initial rollout of a screening programme is a significant new step for the Society. Given the urgency for having a national Bowel Cancer Screening Programme due to the high death rate from bowel cancer and our commitment to ending preventable deaths from cancer, the Society has taken the decision to offer some funding to the Government, to ensure that the Programme is rolled out, to the highest possible standards, at the earliest possible opportunity”, said John McCormack, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society.
The Irish Cancer Society today welcomed the publication of the NCSS recommendations for a bowel cancer screening programme and the HIQA Health Technology Assessment and will now consider the detail of the recommendations using expert advice. The Society also welcomed the Minister’s strong intent and commitment to rollout such a programme.
“We will engage in a specific fundraising initiative designed to provide a level of financial support to the Government for this programme. The level of support will then depend on the success of the fundraising initiative as well as our confidence that the screening programme proposed will meet the highest possible standards”, he said.
The Irish Cancer Society actively campaigned to achieve a Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, tackling unacceptably long waiting times for colonoscopies and running the first ever Bowel Cancer Awareness Month this year.
“We have been on the front line in promoting bowel cancer awareness and in drawing attention to waiting lists for colonoscopies which are simply too long. Since we first highlighted the issue of waiting times for colonoscopies, the waiting times for colonoscopies have reduced by two thirds. The Irish Cancer Society had led the way on campaigning on bowel cancer, and playing a role in the rollout of a nationwide screening programme is and important and logical next step said McCormack. 

For information, advice and support on any aspect of bowel cancer,

call the National Cancer Helpline on Freefone 1800 200 700

See also http://www.hiqa.ie

Great News.
Donegal Action for Cancer Care are delighted to announce that
we have had confirmation from the National Cancer Screening Service that they (NCSS) have
 recieved formal written confirmation that they can proceed with the recruitment of the staff necessary to proceed with the roll out of Breast Check in Donegal. The NCSS urge caution regarding dates but are still on target for 2009. 15th May 09

 DACC welcome news of rapid access to prostate cancer care

Two new rapid access diagnostic clinics for prostate cancer have been opened at Galway University Hospital and St James's Hospital in Dublin.The clinics are the first in a national network of rapid access prostate cancer clinics to be opened at the eight designated major cancer centres around the country.According to the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP), a significant part of the explanation for poor cancer survival in Ireland relates to late diagnosis.

The new clinics will allow men suspected by their GPs of having a high risk of prostate cancer to be fast-tracked directly to hospital for assessment and treatment.At present, men with suspected prostate cancer are usually referred to general urology clinics, rather than specialist prostate clinics, and this can lead to unacceptable delays in diagnosis, according to the NCCP.At the rapid access clinics, patients will have a definitive diagnosis established within two weeks of initial appointment, and if they are confirmed as having cancer, they will have immediate access to a multidisciplinary cancer care team to arrange appropriate treatment.

According to Prof Tom Keane, Director of the NCCP, the rapid access service is a very significant development that will allow clinical staff to identify those who require rapid access to diagnosis, followed by multidisciplinary management of their care.According to the NCCP, rapid access prostate clinics will be opened at the remaining six cancer centres within the next year.

The clinics have been developed at Galway and St James's with the NCCP and the All-Ireland Cancer Foundation.

The rapid access service was officially launched yesterday by Health Minister Mary Harney.

Approximately 2,400 men develop prostate cancer annually in Ireland, with around 550 men dying from the disease each year.

[Posted: Fri 19/06/2009 by Niall Hunter, Editor] Courtesy of Irish Health.com

HSE names worst-performing hospitals

Four hospitals in the country - Mayo General, Cork University Hospital, University Hospital Galway and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, have been given the worst scores - red ‘traffic lights’ - for unsatisfactory performance by the HSE in its new hospital monitoring system.

For the first time, the public can now access monthly hospital performance measurements from the HSE on its website- http://www.hse.ie, from this afternoon.No hospital in the country has been given a ‘good’ score ('green light') under the new HSE performance monitoring system, HealthStat, which is publishing its statistics for January 2009 today. Twenty-nine hospitals have so far been included in the HealthStat system.The six major Dublin hospitals have only been given an average, ‘amber light’ score by the HSE in its new HealthStat hospital performance ranking system.

The new HSE scoring system, gives hospitals one of three ‘traffic light’ scores depending on how they performed according to set targets in many areas including waiting times for operations, waiting times for A&E admissions, use of resources and staffing, including levels of absenteeism.

The main scoring categories are:
* Green light = Good performance
* Amber light= Average performance
* Red light=Unsatisfactory performance

Scores are calculated under the headings, of Access, including waiting times for treatment and admissions;
Integration, including length of patient stay, and Resources, including hospital activity levels compared to staff numbers.

Four hospitals in the country - Mayo General, Cork University, University Hospital, Galway and Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda, have been given the worst scores - red ‘traffic lights’ - for unsatisfactory performance.

Of these three hospitals, Mayo General performed the worst, according to the HealthStat figures, scoring 'unsatisfactory' under all three headings of access, integration and resources.

It scored particularly poorly under headings such as patient waiting times for A&E admission , physiotherapy outpatient appointments and diagnostic tests. Mayo General also scored poorly under the number of new patients seen at outpatients per consultant numbers at the hospital, and under non-attendance of patients at outpatients.

Cork University and Drogheda hospitals received an 'unsatisfactory' score under the headings of Access and Resources.

These hospitals scored particularly poorly in areas such as waiting lists for outpatient appointments, number of new patients seen at outpatients per consultant, and A&E waiting times.

The detailed breakdown of the University Hospital Galway score is not yet available from the HSE.

The remaining 25 hospitals have only received 'average' scores.

The 'big six' Dublin hospitals - Beaumont, Connolly, (Blanchardstown), the Mater, St James’s, St Vincent’s and Tallaght Hospitals have all received average scores overall under the first results from the newly-published scoring system.

The Mater hospital scored an average rating under Access and Integration but received an unsatisfactory rating under Resources. The Mater scored poorly in areas such as A&E waits and waiting times for diagnostic tests.

St Vincent’s was the only one of the ’big six’ to get a ‘good’ rating under any of the three main criteria, receiving it for Access, while getting an average rating under Integration and Resources.

Tallaght received ‘unsatisfactory’ ratings under two criteria – Access and Resources, while receiving an average score for Integration. Tallaght scored poorly under A&E waits and outpatient waiting lists

All the ‘big six’ Dublin hospitals received ‘unsatisfactory’ scores for admission waiting times from A&Es.

The HSE says it will be updating the hospital performance scores on its website on a monthly basis.

It says the new statistics are being used to help help improve performance by everyone involved in providing hospital services.

Each month, the information generated through HealthStat will be discussed at a special forum meeting led by the HSE CEO Prof Brendan Drumm and attended by hospital CEOs and clinical directors.

The HSE says the emphasis will be on sharing best practice and addressing problem areas in hospital performance in a positive way.

Under the performance measurement, set targets include include patients having to wait no longer than six months for elective procedures and no longer than six hours for admission from A&E.The hospital performance statistics do not include clinical data on patient outcomes. These are to be produced at a later stage through the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and the new clinical directorates in hospitals.The HSE plans to include performance ratings for community health and social care services next year.HealthStat statistics for individual hospitals are available at...http://www.hse.ie/eng/Healthstat/hospitals/

Overall HealthStat ratings are available at...http://www.hse.ie/eng/Healthstat/overall/overall.html

If you are a patient or a relative of a patient and want to rate a hospital yourself, click on irishhealth.com's
http://www.ratemyhospital.ie

[Posted: Mon 23/03/2009 by Niall Hunter, Editor] Courtesy of Irish Health.com
 

Minister reveals his battle with cancer

Killeen admits he was too slow to go for check-up

Minister of State Tony Killeen, left, with former UCD president Art Cosgrove at the launch of the Irish Cancer Society’s first ever

 Bowel Cancer Awareness Month.

Junior minister Tony Killeen spoke of his battle against bowel cancer yesterday and admitted he should have gone for tests a year earlier.

The Minister of State for agriculture revealed how he was diagnosed with the disease -- which killed his mother, Mary -- last September and has since undergone two operations .

"I am now half way through six months of chemotherapy -- the treatment is not too bad but you feel bad for a few days afterwards," he added.

He was speaking at the launch of an awareness campaign for bowel cancer which results in the deaths of 924 people every year, many of whom only seek treatment when it is too advanced after ignoring symptoms.

Risk

A new survey by the Irish Cancer Society showed more than one-third of people could not name one sign of the cancer and 25pc did not known risk factors , such as age and having a family relative who had the disease.Mr Killeen said his mother died of the disease in her mid-60s but he was slow to get checked out until his wife kept nagging him to go to the doctor last summer. "My wife became concerned because of my mother's diagnosis.

"I was trying to lose weight and went from eighteen-and-a-half stone to fifteen-and-a-half a bit too quickly. It should have dawned on me it was a bit too impressive."He believed he was like a lot of men who are too slow to have some niggling problem checked out. Mr Killeen said he underwent a colonoscopy in Ennis General Hospital, which has no waiting list, and was later treated in the Galway Clinic. He was operated on in October and December. He added: "I'm continuing to work and think its good for me -- on the weeks I have chemotherapy I work about fifty hours and the rest of the time its 85- 90 hours."Mr Killeen admitted his diet was typical of a politician before the diagnosis, going long stretches without food and then eating the wrong things.

"A lot of politicians' lives are not conducive to a healthy regime but I love fruit and vegetables now," said Mr Killeen.He added: "I would urge people to take that small step and have a test." However, the Government has yet to introduce a national bowel screening programme and hundreds of patients are still waiting more than six months for a colonoscopy.

Warning signs for bowel cancer include:

• · Change in bowel habits lasting more than a month.
• · Bleeding from the back passage.
• · Regular feeling of trapped wind or fullness in the stomach area.
• · Feeling as though there is something left after bowel movement.
• · Pain and discomfort in the stomach area or back passage.
• · Weight loss for no apparent reason.
• · Ongoing tiredness and weakness.

- Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent Friday March 06 2009 Courtesy of The Irish Independent.ie

Scheme to offer free cervical-cancer vaccine

About 300 schoolgirls are to be given the cervical cancer vaccination free of charge, it emerged today. A team of doctors in north Co Dublin have agreed to administer the shot - bought by a consortium of businessmen - for no cost.The initiative, led by Fine Gael TD Dr James Reilly, will take place on Saturday at centres in Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush, and Lusk. Dr Reilly said local schools and parents across the area have also backed the life-saving scheme."This is a very important vaccine that can prevent cervical cancer," said Dr Reilly, a Lusk GP. "This cancer caused 70-80 deaths per year and many more suffer disability and infertility as a result of it."There is an estimated 28,000 schoolgirls who could be receiving the vaccination, which is available in 13 European countries and Northern Ireland.But Government plans to roll out the vaccine across the country were dropped in budget cuts.Since Christmas Dr Reilly has been working on a way to bring the vaccine to his constituency. He and four local businessmen, who do not want to be named, bought the shots and almost 25 doctors in the area have offered to give their time to administer it.

Part of article in Irish Times Mon.2nd March 09

The Irish Cancer Society have a very helpful

Mens Health Manual

for men on cancer prevention and early detection that is in easy read format

Man and His Machine

An introduction...to the manual 

Man has been around for a very long time. As the proud owner of the latest model you’ll be keen to keep it in top condition. With a little care your high performance machine will last you a long lifetime with minimal need for maintenance or spare parts. But like any sophisticated piece of high technology, your body will respond best to a basic understanding of what goes on underneath the bonnet.

In truth, men are more likely to look after their cars than their own bodies. Of course, NCTs are also required by law for your car but there is no such equivalent for the driver. However, many illnesses can be prevented and with early diagnosis, successfully treated. Cancer is a prime example of this.

Here you will find all the information you need to keep your body humming like a finely tuned engine, so you can reduce your risk, and where possible, prevent cancer. It also gives you the tools to notice early warning signs that need to be checked out, so that little problems don’t become big problems.

These simple steps will mean you can be more than just a bog standard model. You can be more, much more. You can be a highly tuned man machine. And you might just reach retirement age as a highly prized vintage model in A1 order.

Phone: 01-2310 500 for The Irish Cancer Society.

DACC wish to inform the local community of an upcoming major cancer conference for Dublin

A major international cancer summit is to take place in Dublin later this year, it has been announced.

The first LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit, organised by the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF), will take place in August.
World champion cyclist, Lance Armstrong, was diagnosed with testicular cancer in the 1990s. If detected early, this disease has an excellent cure rate. However Mr Armstrong ignored the warning signs and left untreated, his cancer spread to his abdomen, lungs and brain. He then underwent aggressive treatment, eventually beating the disease. He created the LAF while undergoing this treatment.
The LIVESTRONG summit will take place from August 24-26, immediately after Mr Armstrong’s participation in the cycling event, the Tour of Ireland, which takes place from August 19-23.
The summit will call for urgent action to address the global cancer burden and introduce new commitments to cancer control by bringing together world leaders, corporations, non-governmental organisations and advocates in an unprecedented show of solidarity.
“Unless we act on a global level, cancer will be the leading cause of death by 2010. Our goal is to be the catalyst that brings everyone together to fight cancer, from survivors like me, to world leaders and policymakers who must commit completely to the effort to avoid a public health catastrophe,” Mr Armstrong said.
He added that the summit provides ‘an invaluable opportunity to stand up for the 28 million cancer survivors worldwide and to create a unified effort to control cancer through new commitments to action’.
It is understood a number of world leaders have already indicated their intent to send high level representation to the summit. Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and former US President, Bill Clinton, have already expressed support.
The LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign made immediate progress when it launched in Australia in January, with several new commitments to cancer control from the Australian government and non-governmental organisations. These commitments and others will be featured at the summit in Dublin.
“I hope a decade from now we can look back on this campaign and see that there truly is a global cancer movement – one that has adequately funded cancer research, cut the death rate to zero and maximized the amount of prevention and education and advocacy that can be done,” Mr Clinton said.
For more information on the LIVESTRONG campaign and the LAF, click on…http://www.livestrong.org

• [Posted: Mon 23/02/2009 by Deborah Condon Courtesy of Irish Health.com]

2009 marks the fifth anniversary of the introduction of the workplace smoking ban in Ireland.

DACC congratulate those who have given up smoking and wish them continued success with it.

 Ash Wednesday/National No Smoking Day 25th February 2009



 

DACC wish to inform the public of changes to the sale of tobacco from 1st. July 09.

 Minister Wallace URGES smokers to give up smoking

24 February 2009

Ms Mary Wallace, T.D. Minister of State for Health Promotion and Food Safety at the Department of Health and Children today, 24th February 2009, called on smokers to try to give up smoking. She is urging smokers to resolve to use the opportunity of 25th of February, “National No Smoking Day”, as the starting point to try to give up smoking.

“National No Smoking Day” is a traditional day that smokers attempt to quit. There is more support available today to help smokers quit than ever before.“The link between cardiovascular disease, cancers and smoking is well documented. Giving up smoking is the single most important thing smokers’ can do for their own health and the health of those around them”, the Minister said.

Anyone wishing to quit or those who need further information should contact the Smoking Quitline at 1850 201 203, Monday to Friday from 8am to 10pm.

The Minister also announced further provisions of the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 and 2004 which will be commenced with effect from 1 July 2009.

These include:

• · A ban on all in-store/point-of-sale advertising of tobacco products;
• · A ban on the display of tobacco products in retail premises;
• · The introduction of a closed container requirement for all tobacco products;
• · Tighter controls on the location and operation of tobacco vending machines;
• · The introduction of a retail register for tobacco retailers.

From 1 July 2009, no advertising or display of tobacco products will be permitted in retail outlets. The location of prominent tobacco displays in retail outlets plays a role in promoting tobacco consumption. Its placement in proximity to everyday consumer goods, such as newspapers and sweets, helps tobacco to be seen as a benign consumer product. Tobacco advertising at the point of sale is also a key factor in a young person starting and continuing to smoke. If young people can be prevented from purchasing tobacco products there is less chance they will become addicted and suffer a smoking related illness. Restricting advertising will also support adults who are trying to quit.

“The implementation of these measures has been anticipated for some time. They are needed to further de-normalise tobacco and to protect children in particular and adults from the dangers of tobacco consumption” the Minister said.

DACC wish to inform people who maybe interested in giving up smoking that there is help available

 Smoking Cessation Service

Service Aims: The HSE Smoking Cessation Service (Sligo/Leitrim) provides a quality service to inform and provide smoking cessation services to people who use or are exposed to tabacco. Those involved in the Smoking Cessation Team also deliver education and training to health care workers on preventative strategies and smoking cessation interventions.

Locality covered/catchment area

Hosts free support and information clinics throughout County Donegal.

For appointments at the following locations:

Buncrana, Carndonagh, Dungloe, Donegal, Killybegs, Letterkenny, Contact: Fiona Boyle – 0872514790.

Lifford, St Johnson, Stranolar, Tamney, Carrigart, Letterkenny (evenings), contact Tracey Flood – 1850-200687

For Inpatient or Outpatient appointments at Letterkenny General Campus: Contact Elaine Robinson 074-9123678.

Target Audience

General Population

How to Access:

Further enquiries contact Tracey Flood – 1850 200687

 Further information available from

Health Promotion. HSE West. Drumany Church. Letterkenny. Co Donegal. Tel: 074-9168001.

Fax: 074-9178540 .

 The above information was taken from the HSE Health Promotion Services Directory. DONEGAL 2007

Importance of HPV vaccine highlighted

An international cervical cancer expert has highlighted that a HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccination programme in Ireland could substantially reduce the morbidity and mortality caused by this disease.

HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer, which is the eighth most frequently diagnosed cancer in this country. There are many types of HPV, most of which are harmless. However some can be serious, such as those that cause cervical cancer.

Last August, Health Minister, Mary Harney, announced that 12-year-old girls were to be vaccinated against the virus from September 2009. This followed a recommendation by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). However just three months after that announcement, the Government said that it was shelving plans to introduce the vaccine due to a lack of funds.

Speaking at a recent meeting for healthcare professionals in Dublin, Prof Margaret Stanley, a professor of epithelial biology at Cambridge University in the UK, pointed out that HPV vaccination is already recommended in 18 European countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Greece. It is also recommended and funded in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Prof Stanley also highlighted the burden of HPV.

“Statistics show that in 2002, 7% of all cancers in women were cervical cancer. Cancer of the anus, penis, vulva and vagina are also partly attributable to HPV. Overall, the global burden attributable to HPV is 4% of all cancers, so it is a significant carcinogen,” she explained.

She emphasised that the key virus in all of these sites is HPV 16, which the vaccine would protect against.

The vaccine also protects against HPV 6 and 11, which are the main causes of genital warts, a condition that has a significant impact on Ireland’s healthcare system. Genital warts are the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Ireland, and in 2006, almost 3,500 were reported. A recent study found that an average case costs €335 to treat, representing a significant cost to the healthcare system.

Also speaking at the meeting, Prof John O’Leary, a consultant histopathologist at the Coombe Hospital in Dublin, said that the long awaited rollout of CervicalCheck last September and the announcement of the HPV vaccination programme had been widely welcomed by healthcare professionals.

“The decision not to proceed with the vaccination programme disappointed many of us. We need to look at where we are now compared to the rest of the world when it comes to prophylactic HPV vaccination,” he said.

The meeting, which was sponsored by Sanofi Pasteur MSD, concluded that in the absence of a national HPV vaccination programme, one of the toughest challenges faced by healthcare professionals is the continued education of patients, to ensure that they are protected against HPV-related diseases.

[Posted: Mon 09/02/2009 by Deborah Condon Courtesy of Irish Health.com

  28 January- Minister Wallace Publishes A National Mens Health Policy

DACC welcome new National Men’s Health Policy.

The National Men’s Health Policy 2008-2013, launched by the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (DOHC) Mary Wallace, highlights the need for a specific focus on men’s health needs and offers a series of recommendations on how to support men to take more responsibility for their own well-being.

In publishing the document, which was developed by the DOHC in conjunction with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Ireland has become the first government in the world to develop a national policy on men’s health.

Among the recommendations in the policy are: the establishment of a centre for research and development in men’s health; the piloting of a national men’s health helpline; and the provision of specific training courses for those working with men.

Lets hope it is not another document and that the money is made available to implement it.

Details of the Men’s Health policy can be accessed on the Dept.of Health, Press Release

 or click on

                                          www.dohc.ie/press/releases/2009/20090128.html

DACC are calling on the people of Donegal to contact their local politican’s stating their preference that our Government invest in Health Services and the Cervical Vaccine in light of our Government now being able to find the estimated €12 Million to hold another Lisbon Referendum.

The people said NO to Lisbon and YES to

better Health Care & the Cervical Vaccine.

What do we get Minister Harney saying NO to the Cervical Vaccine and telling us that 2009 will mean major cuts in health care spending!!! 

Let the issue of the Cervical Vaccine not get lost and forgotten among other issues in Ireland at present!!  

DACC are calling on Minister Harney, The Irish Government and our Local Politicans to ensure that the €9.7 million to roll out the Cervical Vaccine Programme is found.

Our government can now find the money estimated €12 BILLION to revisit the Lisbon Treaty,

find €180 MILLION for the pig industry,€10 BILLION bail out the banks when they need too but can not find the money to invest in lives and save money on longterm care! 

DACC are shocked and saddened with Minister Harneys announcement that the planned HPV vaccination programme for girls to protect against cervical cancer has been cancelled by the Government. In Minister Harneys words “the cervical screening programme has the potential to cut mortality from cervical cancer by up to 90%”.

This does not make economic or moral sense.

81 women died in Irealnd in 2007 from Cervical Cancer.

8 new cases of cancer of the cervix in Donegal last year.

These are the figures before we had the rollout of free cervical screening introduced on the 1st. September 08

Once again our government are creating a two tier system of care, putting pressure on parents to make choices regarding their daughters health. How many families will be able to afford the €600 per vacine to protect their daughters. In families with two or more girls in the age bracket how does a parent decide which child should have the vaccine...in this case parents will probaly be forced to make the decision that none of their daughters get the vacine. .  

We are calling on our Government to reconsider this and are calling on our politicans to support this call.

“When the eagles are silent the parrots begin to jabber”

                                                      Winston Churchill