A Cork hospital has explained why it decided to offer an appointment in 2008 to a woman waiting for a breast scan with a history of cancer.
Cork councillor Aileen Pyle was offered an appointment for a mammogram by the South Infirmary - Victoria University Hospital in 2008, two years after she was referred by her GP.
Ms Pyle's GP recommended that she have a breast scan because of her medical history.
A spokesman for the HSE Southern Area said consultant radiologists at the hospital review all GP referral letters requesting mammograms for patients and, on the basis of these letters, decide whether an urgent or a routine mammogram is required.
"It is imperative that the referring GP stipulates any relevant information or concerns about their patient so that the hospital can make an appointment based on all the facts relevant to the case," he said. "In this particular case, no additional information relating to the patient's previous history of cancer was made known to the hospital."
He said all women presenting to the hospital with a clinical suspicion of malignancy are normally seen on the same working day or, at most, within five working days. A patient with no clinical indications of breast malignancy will be given the next routine appointment for a mammogram.
Ms Pyle said she was frightened when she saw the date.
"I made an appointment privately, but there must be a lot of women in my situation who could not afford to pay," she said.
