Vol. 525 No. 5
284 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children whether the treatment of patients with breast cancer will continue at Castlebar General Hospital, County Mayo; if so, the way in which this complies with recommendations in the O'Higgins report on the treatment of breast cancer; and if the precedent set in Castlebar will be repeated in other health board areas. [25815/00]
The provision of medical services at Mayo General Hospital is a matter for the Western Health Board in the first instance.
At the request of my predecessor, the National Cancer Forum was asked to review symptomatic breast cancer services. A sub-group of the forum carried out this review. The sub-group had the following terms of reference: to assess the impact on the existing diagnostic services for benign and malignant breast disease in the light of the national breast cancer screening programme; the increase in the target population; the increased awareness of the importance of breast screening; and the current and evolving technologies in the area of breast screening.
The sub-group was also asked to make recommendations to the Minister for Health and Children on the diagnostic services for symptomatic breast disease necessary to meet projected increased needs; the need to develop associated services in radiotherapy, medical oncology, counselling and other support services; the resources required to develop these services; and the principles that should underlie the organisation and delivery of services for breast disease.
As part of the work of the sub-group, the regional directors of cancer services were asked for information concerning their current service and their views were sought regarding how the service should be developed in their region. In addition, three members of the sub-group visited each region. The consensus view regarding best practice in the management of breast disease was presented to regional representatives and their views on how this could be achieved in their region were sought.
The sub-group found that, although services should be delivered as close to the patient's home as is feasible, the overriding priority should be to provide the best, safest and most effective treatment for women and, in so doing, provide the best opportunity for long-term survival to those who are found to have breast cancer.
