Wexford General Hospital to get Colonoscopy screening Unit- Connick

 Local Fianna Fáil TD and Minister of State, Sean Connick has said that the selection of Wexford General Hospital as a Colonoscopy screening Unit under by The National Cancer Screening Service is a vote of confidence in the Hospital.

Minister Connick continued, “Wexford people will now be able to access the national population-based colorectal cancer screening programme on their doorsteps. The planned programme will available to men and women aged 60-69 in 2012. In Ireland, colorectal cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second most common fatal cancer among both men and women. One of the significant aspects of colorectal cancer screening is that it can detect pre-cancerous adenomas and is vital tool in cancer prevention”.

“In order to participate in the programme each hospital will have to meet a series of targets as set by the National Cancer Screening Service over the next 12-18 months. I am confident that Wexford General will meet the quality standards set by the programme over the next 12 months  be able to demonstrate their readiness to incorporate screening colonoscopies into their current service”.

Minister Connick concluded, “This is great news for Wexford and for the patients of the South East as endoscopy plays a major role not only in diagnosing colorectal cancer which kills more than 900 people each year but also in diagnosing and monitoring benign conditions including peptic ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease.”