Despite the attack on the HSE’s IT system, Donegal Action for Cancer Care is pointing out that BreastCheck screening appointments are proceeding as normal.
The National Screening Service has issued advice in relation to BreastCheck, CervicalCheck, BowelScreen, diabetic retina screening and follow-up appointments.
The National Screening Service is asking women to attend their BreastCheck appointments as normal or let it know if they can no longer attend so their slot can be offered to another person.
However, the National Screening Service says it is experiencing some difficulties accessing surgery in hospitals.
Patients who have follow-up hospital appointments should check the HSE hospital services disruptions page to see if their appointments are going ahead
Betty Holmes, of Donegal Action for Cancer Care, has this message.
In relation to CervicalCheck, the Screening Service is asking sampletakers to defer all screening appointments booked from 18th to 21st May while it checks the safety of its processes.
Sampletakers are also asked to contact people booked in for screening between those dates and defer their appointments
They should also continue to return any samples taken to date for laboratories for processing.
In relation to bowel screening, participants are asked to continue to return their home screening kits.
Patients who are scheduled for a colonoscopy will receive an initial call from a BowelScreen nurse.
They will have a further call with a nurse to discuss their colonoscopy in detail as soon as access to hospital systems has been restored.
Meanwhile, Diabetic RetinaScreen appointments are continuing as planned.
And patients who have follow-up hospital appointments are advised to check the HSE hospital services disruptions page to see if their appointments are going ahead.
