Friday 20 March 2009

Age Sector Platform, a regional campaigning and lobbying force for older people, has welcomed news that the age limit for breast screening has been extended to the age of 70 for women in Northern Ireland.

Phil Evans, Vice-Chair of Age Sector Platform, commented: “This is good news for older women in Northern Ireland.  These new plans will result in an extra 45,000 women being eligible for mammograms; and will undoubtedly result in many lives being saved through early diagnosis of breast cancer.”

Mrs Evans continued: “Previously, women up to the age of 64 were routinely invited for mammograms every three years and we are delighted that this has been extended.  Older women should not be discriminated against in the provision of healthcare services simply because of their age.”

“In England, Scotland and Wales, there are plans to increase the age limit for breast screening to 73 by the year 2012, and there should be no reason why Northern Ireland women should not also benefit from this further extension.”