Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

On the issue of low volumes, the difficulty is that in our hospitals — I made this point yesterday and have to return to it today — 15,000 mammograms are conducted outside the auspices of BreastCheck. We are endeavouring, with the recent decisions made by the HSE, to designate four managed control networks and eight cancer centres which will be implemented on a managed and phased basis. Professor Keane is due to take up his post in the week commencing 19 November and is expected to quickly designate national clinical leaders of radiation, surgery and medical oncology. Arrangements are in hand to enable him to take control of all the new cancer developments from the start of the new year and all existing cancer services and related staff on a progressive basis. He intends to designate the locations for a range of cancer specialists among the eight centres by early January and will therefore engage in detailed planning to facilitate these designations as soon as he arrives. The breast consultants have already been recruited by this Government in recent years. I am told we probably have more than we require but we need multidisciplinary teams.

The last question raised by Deputy Kenny pertained to Cork. On 14 June, the Health Information Quality Authority published the terms of reference for its independent investigation into the care provided to Rebecca O'Malley. This is a case from four months ago. In addition to investigating the circumstances surrounding the care of Rebecca in regard to her symptomatic breast disease, the investigation will examine the provision of the pathology services provided by the Health Service Executive at Cork University Hospital and the symptomatic breast disease services provided by the Mid-Western Regional Hospital. I stated that in the House several months ago. I am aware Ms O'Malley's consultant surgeon at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital wrote to the pathologist at CUH requesting that the case be reviewed internally by the CUH and externally by the Mater hospital. I am told that at this juncture no additional cases of undetected malignancy have been identified. The HIQA investigation is ongoing and a report is expected later this month. For absolute clarity, HIQA was asked in May to undertake an investigation into the O'Malley case. That investigation is due for completion before the end of this month and includes an examination of the pathology services at CUH and symptomatic breast disease services at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, where Ms O'Malley first presented for treatment, and the 24 cases form part of that investigation.

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