Free breast screening arrives on Sligo’s doorstep
A BreastCheck mobile screening unit is currently stationed on the grounds of Sligo Rovers Football Club, offering free mammograms to women eligible for the national screening program. The initiative is part of Ireland’s ongoing effort to widen access to breast cancer screening and detect signs of cancer at an early, treatable stage.
Most eligible women are automatically registered with BreastCheck and are invited for screening around ages 52 or 53, depending on when the service screens in a given area. The aim is to provide a convenient, accessible option that reduces barriers to participation for women who might not otherwise schedule a screening.
What BreastCheck offers
BreastCheck provides a screening mammogram, an X-ray of the breast, to women aged 50-69 roughly every two years. While many invitations lead to a routine, normal result, about 1 in 20 women are asked to return for a BreastCheck assessment to explore further tests. The program notes that seven out of every 50 women called to assessment will require treatment for breast cancer, underlining the value of early detection.
How to make the most of your appointment
Dr. Alissa Connors, BreastCheck Lead Clinical Director, emphasizes that breast screening can save lives by identifying cancer signs before they are palpable. To ensure every appointment slot is used, BreastCheck asks women to follow a few practical steps: if you can’t attend, inform the team so your slot can be offered to someone else; if Sligo town isn’t convenient, contact the number on your appointment letter to rearrange screening in another unit. The service can also arrange longer appointments or provide support for people with extra needs. Women aged 53-69 who have never attended before are encouraged to call and check for cancellations that could allow them to be seen sooner.
Anyone with questions can call BreastCheck for guidance. It’s important to contact your GP if you notice symptoms rather than waiting for a screening: a new lump, changes in breast size or shape, nipple discharge, armpit lump or swelling, skin dimpling, a rash around the nipple, or changes to the nipple’s appearance.
BreastCheck’s broader goals and progress
Gráinne Gleeson, BreastCheck Programme Manager, highlights the program’s growth and commitment to accessibility. Since BreastCheck began in Ireland, the service has delivered over 2.5 million mammograms. With population growth and about 100,000 more women now eligible than six years ago, BreastCheck is expanding access through innovative approaches and by prioritising those who have waited longest for screening.
BreastCheck’s objective is to offer women an appointment for their first screening by age 52 (and, in some cases, 53) and to keep the process efficient and patient-centred. While most women receive their results within a reasonable timeframe, the program continues to add screening sessions and recruit staff to meet rising demand. The service maintains a high-quality standard accredited by EUREF, the European breast screening quality assurance body, and is on track to screen more than 170,000 women this year with an uptake around 72% in 2024, above its 70% target.
To verify eligibility or book, you can check the BreastCheck register at hse.ie/breastcheck or call 1800 45 55 55.
