[holding answer 5 March 2007]: Statistics on the number of women referred by their general practitioner (GP) with suspected breast problems are not collected centrally. The statistics held by the Department only identify those women who are urgently referred by a GP for suspected breast cancer. For the most recently available period (October to December 2006) 49.3 per cent. of all patients treated for breast cancer had been referred urgently for suspected cancer by their GP.