Europa Donna Ireland (EDI), the Irish Breast Cancer Campaign, has launched a patient information leaflet on Specialist Breast Centres.

The leaflet details what a Specialist Breast Centre is, where they are located and why a woman with an actual or potential diagnosis of breast cancer needs to attend one.

The eight centres listed in the leaflet have yet to be independently accredited by HIQA, the standards watchdog body.

Ireland’s mortality rate for breast cancer is currently 15pc higher than the EU rate and 30pc higher than in the USA.

The leaflet is available on the EDI website, http://www.europadonnaireland.ie and will be distributed to all cancer support centres, breast care nurses and specialist breast centres.

- Eilish O’Regan