Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2015
781. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if referrals of breast cancer patients can be extended beyond County Donegal to increase the number of these patients at Letterkenny General Hospital to facilitate the appointment of a second consultant breast surgeon and further to secure the long-term viability of breast cancer services at the hospital. [38022/15]
View answer783. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health his views that the centralisation of breast cancer referrals from general practitioners in County Donegal to University Hospital Galway and away from Letterkenny General Hospital is good practice; and if this practice is consistent with securing the long-term sustainability of breast cancer services at Letterkenny General Hospital. [38024/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 781 and 783 together.
A comprehensive symptomatic breast cancer service is provided to patients in the West/North West region at the Symptomatic Breast Unit in Galway University Hospital and the satellite service in Letterkenny General Hospital.
The satellite service in Letterkenny was established arising from the particular geographic circumstances applying in Donegal. It has been the practice to offer appointments to patients from other counties in the Saolta Hospital Group region in Galway and this has worked well since the re-organisation of symptomatic breast care services several years ago. The service in Letterkenny is augmented by surgeons who are based in Galway travelling to Letterkenny General Hospital periodically to carry out clinics there.
The centralising of triaging of breast cancer referrals for the entire Saolta Group to Galway University Hospital, which commenced in May this year, is consistent with providing a uniform service to patients across the Saolta Hospital Group. This approach will not impact on the long-term sustainability of breast cancer services at Letterkenny General Hospital.
