Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I welcome the Minister's statement that it is important that the misdiagnosis of women with breast cancer should not happen at any hospital again. Like most people in this House and on this island, I was shocked and angry to learn that eight women who had been given the all-clear after getting mammograms at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, have now been identified as having breast cancer. The health service has failed these women and their families, who placed their trust in it, but they have been badly let down. Nothing we do or say will change the reality for these eight women. Neither will it change the facts for those six women who require further checks nor for the 13 who await further test results. It is certain the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney and the Fianna Fáil Government must take political responsibility for the shambles that is the health service. The buck rests with the Minister and the Government who have collective responsibility for the health service.

The Minister stated on "Prime Time" last night that there had been an inspection of the mammography equipment in the hospital early last year yet her Department is aware that this machine was 15 years old, that radiation equipment in general has a lifespan of ten years and that this machine should have been replaced five years previously. Half of the total number of 52 hospitals have equipment older than 15 years and this is completely unacceptable. What plans has the Minister made to replace these machines?

My party and I are looking for the Minister to immediately issue a memorandum to all HSE staff advising them that the double reading of mammograms is to become standard practice in all hospitals from now on. The Government needs to invest in digital scanners immediately in order that double reading can take place in another centre if two radiologists are not available to read the scan. The women of Ireland cannot wait for the Minister's centres of excellence; they have been waiting since 2001. Six years in total is a long time to wait.

Centres of excellence need to be established immediately in order that the women of Ireland can have some hope and faith in our system which has been allowed to fail under what the Government has established. Today there has been a further revelation about a misdiagnosis in Cork and we already know about the fiasco in Barrington's. Who knows what other cases may be out there which will be made public soon?

What women want and demand is a health service which will deliver the best service and the best result in order that people can trust it and rely upon its integrity. This should be a service that delivers the best result for women and will make an early diagnosis of problems.

I hope the Minister will take on board the constructive criticism given by all Deputies and that there will be an immediate roll-out of the centres of excellence which are badly needed.

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