Irish women are failing to be diagnosed with breast cancer because of a chronic shortage of trained radiographers, according to Ms Deirdre O'Connell of the cancer treatment advocacy organisation, Europa Donna Ireland.
"The shortage needs to be dealt with through an increase in training places and recruitment from abroad. The lack of radiographers is holding back development of breast-screening services. These manpower issues should have been foreseen by the Government."
Europa Donna also said there was a shortage of staff in therapeutic radiology, with far fewer consultant radiation oncologists than needed. "The percentage of cancer patients (all cancers) who are treated with radiotherapy is considerably lower than it should be. The figure should be 50 per cent - in 1997 it was 21 per cent."
The Irish Institute of Radiographers (IIR) recently said X-ray services were being curtailed in hospitals because of a scarcity of trained employees. The IIR has set up an international recruitment drive.
Europa Donna Ireland was set up in 1998 to raise awareness among women about breast cancer and to campaign for the best possible diagnostic and treatment services.
More than 1,500 Irish women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. According to Europa Donna, a woman diagnosed with breast cancer in Ireland is twice as likely to die from the disease as a woman diagnosed in the US.
Ms O'Connell added: "Something has to be done. We are way behind countries like France when it comes to breast cancer diagnosis and care. Women's awareness has increased in relation to breast cancer but they are constantly disappointed by the lack of access to services."
The Cork TD, Ms Deirdre Clune (FG), has called on the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, to extend the national breast screening programme announced last year.
"To date the national BreastCheck programme is only available in the Eastern, North Eastern and Midlands Health Board areas. Last year the Minister said it was his intention to extend the programme on a nationwide basis. So far this has not happened," she said.
Europa Donna is also calling for the implementation of the recommendations of the 1999 Department of Health report on the development of services for symptomatic breast disease.
Ms O'Connell said there was an unacceptable waiting time for mammograms, appointments with consultants and for chemotherapy. "Cancer services generally are in a state of crisis. Breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in Irish women. One in 13 women develop breast cancer and our overall mortality rate is 37 per cent."
A spokesman for the Department of Health said a postgraduate course in radiography has been set up at UCD in order to attract more people to the field. The Department also stated it is strongly committed to reaching all women in the BreastCheck target group as soon as possible.