I, the undersigned demand the immediate reopening of screening checks for Breast, Bowl and Cervical Cancer.

• No mammograms for Breast cancer were carried out in April this year as opposed to 13,763 mammograms in April last year;
• 937 Cervical Checks were carried out in April 2020, compared to 21,037 in April 2019;
• In several cases, there is a minimum 24 week wait for test results;
• GPs have stated that the postponement of screening will have a massive negative impact on screening of patients, and in treating patients with cancer;
• Its estimated that the government shall have to more than double the rate of testing to address the backlog.
   
  This is the same Fine Gael government and the same Minister for Health Simon Harris who presided over the Cervical Check Scandal which affected over a 1,000 Irish women and led to the tragic death of a number of women.

That is why screening for bowel, breast and cervical cancer must recommence immediately and resources made available, to ensure those with cancer are given the best chance to fight cancer – and not be subjected to further government mishandling of our nation’s healthcare.