Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to address this serious matter. It is unfortunate that my maiden speech in this House must relate to an issue of such negativity and devastating impact on the lives of the women of County Clare. I am deeply unhappy at the decision of the HSE to end the mammography service at Ennis General Hospital. We must have far more information from the HSE and I welcome any information the Department may be able to provide through the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher.

The genesis of this service was based on the efforts of a local group of women who raised funds to put the equipment in place. Without consultation, however, the HSE proposes to end the service. This shows a great lack of understanding of the voluntary sector and an arrogance on the part of the HSE that is not befitting a public agency charged with the responsibility of delivering a health service to the people of County Clare and the rest of the State.

I object in the strongest possible terms to the decision, without notice or consultation, to propose to end this service. There has been no consultation with the stakeholders. As public representatives, we have been provided with no information. We too had to depend on journalistic colleagues to provide us with the information they received in advance of yesterday's press conference. That is no way for a State agency to do business. It does not allow for the type of accountability we expect and shows a scant regard for those of us with an electoral mandate.

I am not a medical expert but I believe there is some merit in the idea of a centre of excellence. However, the HSE has not put forward a credible service plan to cater for the women of Clare in Limerick and Galway. A previous speaker made an exceptionally good point regarding the west Clare peninsula, which is 100 miles from the location identified for mammographies. As public representatives, we should have been provided with the information in advance and discussions should have been held on finding an open and transparent solution through the health forum which was to have been established for the people of the locality. This decision has caused concern for women because it gives rise to the belief that further delays will ensue in getting access to mammography services.

A women who has had a preliminary examination by a general practitioner only to be told she will have to wait a number of weeks before having a mammogram faces further anxiety and pressure. That is not acceptable and should not be allowed to continue. Given the proposal to further roll out BreastCheck services, I cannot understand why Ennis does not have the numbers to sustain a centre for excellence, particularly with the population expansion taking place throughout the county.

A recent case involving the misdiagnosis of a local women has created great anxiety among the people of County Clare. The woman underwent a mammogram in Limerick but was not informed that she had breast cancer. I understand the individual concerned has met the Minister for Health and Children but the result has been a lack of confidence in the services available in Limerick. The Health Service Executive has done nothing to provide reassurances that a centre of excellence will be established to avoid this kind of misdiagnosis, which further adds to the suffering of people who are already in very vulnerable situations.

I ask that the contributions made in this debate be raised with the Minister so that discussions can be arranged with the chief executive of the HSE at the earliest possible opportunity with a view to revoking the order to transfer services to Limerick until such time as credible services plans are in place that meet the needs of all the women of County Clare.

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