Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 2

Written Answers. - Cancer Treatment Services.

Enda Kenny

Question:

535 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of breast cancer procedures carried out at Galway Regional Hospital and at Mayo General Hospital in each of the past two years; if he will give details of facilities in respect of further expansion of both centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21928/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I understand that, in this instance, the Deputy is looking for information on the number of mastectomies, as a result of cancer, carried out in both hospitals. The following table provides the number of persons diagnosed as having a malignant neoplasm of the female breast, ICD-9-CM Code 174, and having a mastectomy, ICD-9-CM Codes 85.41-85.48, in both Mayo General Hospital and University College Hospital, Galway, UCHG. The data are for the years 1999 and 2000 which is the latest HIPE, hospital in-patient enquiry, data available.

	1999	2000
Mayo General	40	38
UCHG	73	74

I have provided a sum of £1 million this year to the Western Health Board for the development of symptomatic breast disease services in line with the recommendations of the report of the sub-group on the development of services for symptomatic breast disease. The board has formulated detailed proposals on the development of services in its functional area . These proposals are the subject of ongoing consultations between the board and my Department.

Question No. 536 answered with Question No. 523.