Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)

In the brief time available, I would like to outline my concerns about the current status of cancer services in the north-west region. I trust I may never need the services of the breast care team in Letterkenny, or in the rest of the country, but I cannot be sure. I raised this matter privately with the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach, therefore, I am confident that they, together with members of the Cabinet, are aware of the need for the surgeon in Letterkenny to be made permanent. I believe that decision is currently with Comhairle na nOspidéal.

The surgeon's presence will provide an important service to women and families in the north west. However, if his status does not become permanent, there is a fear that not just breast services, but all cancer services will be under threat at the general hospital as staff move to permanent jobs elsewhere. This would not be fair to the staff who are working hard to expand provision in Letterkenny General Hospital or the population of the area. A permanent surgeon would be in a position to drive the provision of support services and links to appropriate existing facilities. The loss of the consultant radiation oncologist who has visited on a regular basis from St. Luke's poses a serious problem. This post must be reinstated at St. Luke's, with the post specified to support Letterkenny General Hospital. Similarly, the ability to have a mammogram within a reasonable time needs to be addressed.

There has been a debate about the location of multi-disciplinary teams. I visited major breast cancer hospitals in London with Europa Donna. I want the best service for the patient. I do not want to play politics with this serious matter. I met the team in Letterkenny and they are confident that they are in a position to adopt a multi-disciplinary approach now and in the future. They want the Department to examine what they are doing. They are confident their work will stand up to scrutiny.

The proposal that Letterkenny should link up with services in Derry has not advanced, therefore, I ask the Tánaiste to accept the proposal that the Letterkenny team work instead in a virtual sense with Sligo, which is already a designated site. I support cross-Border co-operation completely and feel that many solutions still lie in links with Belfast. However, months are slipping by and uncertainty is leading to heightened concern for all of us in the north west. This is not a woman's issue, it is an issue for all of us. As a politician and a woman, I ask the Tánaiste to examine the case of the north west and consider the distances involved, which compounds the pain and anguish for people diagnosed with cancer. Where possible and where safe to do so, services should be available close to the service user.

Similarly, we need the screening in the north west about which Deputy O'Malley spoke to ensure that those who are currently presenting very late are caught earlier. Some people may not realise that my home in Donegal is 20 miles further from Galway than from Dublin. Can we not look to the existing services in the North, where laboratories are already being used and screening has been established for decades? The Tánaiste is aware of the issues. I ask her to meet me and my party colleagues in Donegal to advance this issue and bring certainty to the people I represent. I know she understands the issue.

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