Vol. 505 No. 5
21 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Health and Children the waiting time for treatment at the mammography centre at the Mater Hospital, Dublin; the steps, if any, being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13982/99]
At present, in Ireland mammography is used primarily as a diagnostic tool for symptomatic or concerned women on referral from their GPs and in some cases for women at particular risk of developing the disease. There are 19 diagnostic mammographic units available in Ireland for symptomatic breast cancer patients. Of the 19 units 14 are available outside of Dublin, with at least one unit in each health board area.
Breast cancer screening involves the carrying out of mammography on a mass population basis. The aim is to lead to earlier detection and treatment of breast cancer in asymptomatic women.
The Deputy will be aware that in March 1997, my predecessor gave the go ahead for the introduction of phase I of the national breast screening programme for the target population of women aged 50-64, in the Eastern, North Eastern and Midland Health Board areas. There will be two central units located at St. Vincent's hospital and at the Mater Hospital, where the screening, assessment and treatment of women will be carried out using a multi-disciplinary approach. In addition, the use of mobile units by BreastCheck, the national breast screening board, will ensure that the screening service is accessible to all women in the target age group in these areas. It is expected that the programme will commence in October 1999. My intention is to provide a top quality service which meets best international standards. I am satisfied that the careful planning and deliberation by the national breast screening committee over the past two years in relation to all aspects of the programme will ensure that we can offer a service which is underpinned by standards of excellence and one which will ultimately pay dividends in terms of reductions in mortality among women in the target population.
In relation to the specific difficulties being experienced at the Mater Hospital, the view of the hospital is that increased awareness among women due to the proposed introduction of the national breast screening programme has led to increased requests for screening which in turn have increased the numbers waiting for mammograms. Allied to this is the large number of GP referrals to the Mater Hospital from outside its catchment area. The Mater Hospital has estimated that approximately 88 per cent of its waiting list are from outside Dublin. As I have already mentioned there are 14 units available to meet needs of these patients.
My Department is very conscious of the importance of early access to symptomatic mammography services and of the provision of an equivalent standard of excellence in both symptomatic and screening mammography services. For this reason, I have requested the national cancer forum to undertake a review of symptomatic breast cancer services at national level prior to the commencement of phase I of the national breast screening programme and to report back to my Department as soon as possible in the matter.
22 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children the locations for the delivery of oncology services; the waiting period for patients to avail of consultation and treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13707/99]
Under the national cancer strategy, oncology services are being provided at an increasing number of locations throughout the country. Up to the recent past, consultant-based oncology services were confined to a small number of locations, mainly in Dublin. However, the Government has allocated some £19.5 million to a range of cancer services including oncology, and the process of developing consultant-based oncology services nationally is well under way.
Since the national cancer strategy was initiated, additional consultant medical oncologists, together with appropriate support staff, have been appointed in St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Beaumont Hospital Dublin, the North-Eastern Health Board area and South-Eastern Health Board area. I have provided funding for further consultants in this specialty in the Midland, Mid-Western, North-Western, Southern and Western Health Board areas and work to put these services in place is continuing. The provision of these posts and support staff will ensure that patients with cancer can be treated to the greatest extent possible within their own region, thus considerably reducing the need to travel lengthy distances for treatments.
Patients with cancer are seen as quickly as possible and it is not normal for to have significant waiting periods before they can be assessed and treated. I am confident that the considerable expansion of oncology services that I have outlined will offer high quality facilities and ensure that all patients are seen without delay.
23 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on whether it is appropriate that mammography equipment costing £75,000 has been lying idle in boxes for almost one and a half years in Cavan General Hospital; the inquiries, if any, he has made to date to either the hospital directly or the North-Eastern Health Board; and the steps, if any, he will take to ensure essential medical equipment purchased is properly utilised. [11573/99]
77 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children if taxpayers money was used to pur chase mammography equipment by a health board hospital and then left unused. [13709/99]
86 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on whether it is appropriate that mammography equipment costing £75,000 has been lying idle in boxes for almost one and a half years in Cavan General Hospital; the inquiries, if any, he has made to date in relation to this matter to either the hospital directly or the North-Eastern Health Board; and the steps, if any, he will take to ensure essential medical equipment purchased is properly utilised. [14104/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 77 and 86 together.
In 1997 the North-Eastern Health Board received approval from my Department for the appointment of a consultant general surgeon with a sub-specialty in breast and endocrine surgery. In anticipation of the arrival of this consultant, the board purchased mammography equipment for the Cavan site of the Cavan-Monaghan hospital group. The equipment was delivered at the end of November 1997.
It is essential that all medical equipment, particularly mammography equipment, is installed in an appropriate location in any hospital setting. Factors such as high quality of service, safety and the needs of patients must be taken into consideration before a suitable location is decided upon. Management and staff at the hospital agreed on the most suitable location, which required structural alterations prior to the installation of the machine.
As this is highly specialised equipment, the management at the hospital engaged the department of medical physics and bioengineering at St. James's Hospital, Dublin together with its own technical and health and safety experts to ensure that the installation would meet the highest specifications and standards.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the consultant general surgeon with a special interest in breast and endocrine surgery is now in place on the Cavan general hospital site. The North-Eastern Health Board has recruited two consultant radiologists who will also have an important input to cancer services. Further training of staff was required in order to ensure that the mammography equipment is operated to the highest standards, and this process is now almost complete. The installation of the mammography equipment is near completion and the North-Eastern Health Board anticipates that the service will be operational shortly.
