Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2010
98 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the breast cancer family risk assessment clinic in Tallaght hospital, Dublin, has closed; the location at which patients who had attended this clinic will now receive this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10423/10]
View answerThe goals of the National Cancer Control Programme are improvements in cancer prevention, detection, treatment and survival through a national service based on evidence and best practice. Under the Programme, all cancer diagnostic, surgical and radiation oncology services are being transferred to four managed cancer control networks, each with two cancer centres. This process was completed in 2009 for breast cancer diagnostic and surgical services, all of which are now located in the eight centres.
The two cancer centres for the Dublin Mid-Leinster region are St.Vincent's University Hospital and St. James's Hospital. Accordingly, breast cancer diagnostic and surgical services, including family risk assessment services, at Tallaght have now been relocated to these two centres. All women who were attached to the Tallaght breast service, and their GPs, have been written to and have been transferred back to their GP or to St. Vincent's University Hospital or St. James's Hospital, as appropriate.
