HEALTH Secretary Jeanne Freeman announces that the breast cancer screening programme, paused since 20 March because of the coronavirus pandemic, will resume.

Anyone invited for a screening before services were halted, or who wasn’t able to attend, or had their appointment cancelled for any reason, will receive a letter in the coming weeks.

If an appointment was cancelled, the letter will give a specified timed appointment.

If someone couldn’t make an original appointment, they will be given an invitation to contact the clinic to make a new one.

There will also be invitations sent out to women who would normally be due for a screening.

There will be no change to the screening process itself but additional hygiene measures have been introduced, with staff wearing PPE and appointments staggered so waiting areas are quieter and physical distancing can be observed.

It will “take a bit of time” to get the programme back up and running, but this is an “important further step”, says Ms Freeman.