Hospital Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 April 2011

Tuesday, 5 April 2011

Questions (413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419, 420)

Niall Collins

Question:

430 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health and Children if it is still his intention to reinstate symptomatic breast cancer services in Sligo General Hospital in the next three months. [6879/11]

Niall Collins

Question:

431 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health and Children given his commitment to reinstate symptomatic breast cancer services in Sligo General Hospital in the next three months, if he is now abandoning the national quality assurance standards for symptomatic breast disease services. [6880/11]

Niall Collins

Question:

432 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health and Children in view of his decision that the national quality assurance standards for symptomatic breast disease services will no longer apply in parts of the country, if he will provide the future role of the Health Information and Quality Authority in monitoring these standards. [6881/11]

Niall Collins

Question:

433 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health and Children the discussions he has had with the Health Information and Quality Authority with regard to the reinstatement of symptomatic breast cancer services in Sligo General Hospital in the next three months; when these discussions took place; if HIQA is in agreement with the reinstatement of these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6882/11]

Niall Collins

Question:

434 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health and Children the discussions he has had with the director of the national cancer control programme with regard to the reinstatement of symptomatic breast cancer services in Sligo General Hospital; when these discussions were held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6883/11]

Niall Collins

Question:

435 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health and Children if the additional consultant and other staff appointments that were made to Galway university hospital to facilitate the centralisation of symptomatic breast cancer services will now be removed from the hospital and will he indicate which posts and the timetable. [6884/11]

Niall Collins

Question:

436 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health and Children if in line with his policy of money follows the patient, there will be an equivalent reduction in the budget of Galway university hospital as the increase to be given to Sligo General Hospital as breast cancer patients are redirected; the amount of same and when will it happen. [6885/11]

Niall Collins

Question:

437 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health and Children if the option of immediate breast reconstruction will no longer be available to Sligo breast cancer patients; will they now be required to undergo two operations, the first in Sligo General Hospital and the second in Galway university hospital. [6886/11]

Written answers

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy James Reilly)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 to 437, inclusive, together.

The Strategy for Cancer Control in Ireland set out the rationale for the restructuring of cancer services that paved the way for the establishment of the National Cancer Control Programme. Since then, there has been a considerable change in the way previously fragmented cancer services in our hospitals, in particular, are organised. Breast cancer diagnosis and surgery were transferred from Sligo General Hospital to University Hospital Galway in August 2009. Women now have their initial diagnosis and surgery under the care of a multidisciplinary team, with immediate breast reconstruction available, in a centre which has the minimum volume of new cases, as recommended by the National Quality Assurance Standards for Symptomatic Breast Disease. Patients only travel for diagnosis and surgery and can have their chemotherapy, where necessary, in Sligo. A breast care nurse based in Sligo follows up women with minor complications locally and provides ongoing support and breast care where required.

The National Quality Assurance Standards which were adopted by HIQA were prepared by a national group that was chaired by Professor Niall O'Higgins. The purpose of the standards was to improve the quality of care for women with breast cancer in Ireland. I am committed to ensuring that quality and optimal care are at the heart of our health services, including our cancer services, which must be delivered in line with best practice in a safe and quality-approved setting. I will shortly meet Dr. Susan O'Reilly, who is the Director of the National Cancer Control Programme, to discuss a range of strategic issues in relation to cancer services, including the provision of breast cancer services at Sligo General Hospital.