Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

The public private partnership process has not been abandoned but it is the case that through the traditional route we will have four extra machines at Beaumont Hospital and St. James' Hospital to deal with capacity issues between now and 2009 or 2010. However, we are talking about large sums of money. Deputy Reilly mentioned the Whitfield Clinic this morning but who provides the money is not the issue. The issue is safety and safe patient care. I am a fan of the HSE procuring services once they can be provided safely.

On the issue of double reading, I understand 15,000 mammograms are conducted every year, excluding the breast screening service, which is an incredible figure. I am not certain, for example, that if two people were reading in Portlaoise, it would have made any difference.

I forgot to answer Deputy Flanagan. I can provide him with the terms of reference. The HSE engaged Dr. Ann O'Doherty who is not an employee of the HSE but an employee of the independent organisation BreastCheck to carry out a review. She is an international expert and is involved with the breast screening programme in the United Kingdom. The last thing one could accuse her of is not being independent. All clinicians value their autonomy and independence. She has been asked to look over the mammograms, ultrasounds and anything else that is relevant, including the machinery, and to write a report. When we see her report, we will see what follow up action is necessary.

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