Cancer Genetics Services in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland, like Wales and Scotland, is part of the United Kingdom. The total population in 1997 was 1,577,835. The health care structure is similar to the rest of the UK and Northern Ireland constitutes a complete health care region within the UK. It is divided into four area health and social services boards, each providing health and social care and responsible to the Northern Ireland Department of Health. In 1993–1995, the annual average of new diagnosed cancer patients was 8513. In 1995, 2953 cancers were diagnosed in men, and the corresponding figure for women was 3162. Deaths from cancer in 1995 were 1846 and 1605 for men and women. The estimated annual incidence of specific cancers occurring within defined populations in Northern Ireland in 1997 is shown in Table 1.