Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The HSE has apologised to all of the women involved for the delay in diagnosis. Everyone is concerned about these eight women and it is important that the requisite treatment and counselling services have been put in place in respect of them.

The Minister for Health and Children was informed on 29 August last that following concerns raised by the relevant staff, the HSE had established a review of all breast radiology diagnoses at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise made in the period from November 2003 to August 2007. That review is being led by Dr. Ann O'Doherty, consultant radiologist at St. Vincent's University Hospital who also works with BreastCheck. The HSE advised the Department that 3,026 mammograms — representing the total number involved — had been reviewed, that this led to 234 women having their diagnosis status and clinical notes reviewed and that, as a result, 54 individuals were called to clinics at St. Vincent's University Hospital. Of the 54 recalled, to date seven have been identified — another person was also identified but not under this review — as having a diagnosis of cancer. All seven women have been offered the appropriate treatment and counselling.

At the beginning of this week, the cases of 19 women were still to be reviewed. Of these, six have been referred to the special clinic at St. Vincent's. Four of them attended the clinic yesterday and two are scheduled to attend on Thursday. The review will be completed this week and a full report will be published by the end of November.

I understand that a consultant radiologist whose practice gave rise to this review remains on administrative leave. I also understand that a helpline has been put in place.

As Deputy Kenny is aware, until recently there were 35 different hospitals throughout the country at which treatment was available. The HSE has for some time — in line with the practice in other jurisdictions, including Northern Ireland — been reducing that number and establishing centres of excellence at which different standards apply. The latter information is separate from the matter under discussion but it outlines what the HSE has been endeavouring to do in providing a service. The eminent person charged with driving the reform programme will be commencing work in a few weeks and will be bringing the cancer service into line with the review carried out by the HSE. We look forward to that happening during 2008 and 2009.

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