Professor Arnold Hill:

The treatment for breast cancer once a person is diagnosed is, I must say, very effective and timely. As the Deputy knows, in breast cancer there are many pathways in which people may be treated. Sometimes we choose to give chemotherapy first and sometimes we go with surgery. Access to all those services in the eight centres are very appropriate, however. We have key performance indicators. The National Cancer Control Programme, NCCP, monitors these. Once a person is diagnosed, our health service does a really good job in access to surgery and access to chemotherapy. That has been the case for the last number of years.