John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I am seeking clarification from the Minister, as I did not speak previously on this matter. Section 7 of the national cancer control strategy, dated September 2007, deals with the configuration of primary cancer surgery centres. It is stated on page 13 that about 2,000 breast cancers are managed surgically in the public hospital system in Ireland. Given the proposed number of 150 new cases per centre, this equates to 13 or 14 cancer care centres. The report then makes the assumption that BreastCheck will reduce the number of new cases requiring surgery by 33% to 50%. On this basis, the number of recommended centres will be eight. I have a problem with this assumed reduction. With the vagueness of the projected timescale, I do not see a sufficiently strong data foundation on which to build a national strategy.

In addition, it is stated on page 18 of A Strategy for Cancer Control in Ireland, published in 2006, that the number of new cases is projected to reach 28,000 by 2020. This is more than double the figure of 13,888 produced in 2000. How can the Minister justify only having eight cancer centres when about 2,000 breast cancer surgical procedures are performed each year? She is assuming that this number will drop by up to 50% and has totally ignored the projected significant increase. The science is flawed.

See this speech in context