Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Jun 2001

Vol. 539 No. 3

Written Answers. - Cancer Treatment Services.

Enda Kenny

Question:

12 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress made towards the expansion and development of services at the breast cancer unit at Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar, County Mayo; the allocation of money approved for this work from the £2.25 million authorised by his Department to the Western Health Board in 2001; the extra staff to be appointed to the cancer unit at Mayo General Hospital in 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18871/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

As the Deputy will be aware, the provision of medical services at Mayo General Hospital is a matter for the Western Health Board in the first instance.

As the Deputy is also aware, at the request of the previous Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Cowen, the National Cancer Forum established a sub-group to examine the provision of services for women with symptomatic breast disease. 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 on 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 considered 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.

When I received the report of the Sub-Group on the Development of Services for Symptomatic Breast Disease, I established an advisory group under the chairmanship of Professor Niall O'Higgins to assist the health boards in formulating their plans for the development of services for symptomatic breast disease. This group met Western Health Board officials and clinicians following which the board considered the development of specialist breast disease services and adopted a plan for this development. This plan was submitted to my Department and has been the subject of discussions with the Western Health Board.

I assure the Deputy that the development of specialist breast disease services in the Western Health Board area are being actively considered within the Department and this involves services at Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar.