Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

In response to the last question, I understand that Dr. Ann O'Doherty was a member of the interview panel. It was a Public Appointments Service interview process that appointed the radiologist who is currently on administrative leave. I believe we answered a parliamentary question here recently. We get about 6,000 letters, excluding telephone calls, e-mails, representations from parliamentarians and parliamentary questions, in a four-month period. I believe the Minister for Health and Children sees letters that are addressed "addressee only". I believe the first time I became aware of this was 29 August when I was about to do an interview on the Barringtons Hospital issue. The HSE informed me that it had suspended the service in the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise. That was the first time I became aware of this.

I hasten to add and emphasise that Department officials in the cancer unit who handled this correspondence did so in a very robust, thorough and fair fashion. The outcome would not have been any different or better if I had personally seen the letter at that stage. It was discussed with Dr. Hollywood, who was the medical director.

I wish to set the record straight by saying that when the O'Higgins report was produced in 2000, there was a recommendation that, marginally speaking because it was doubtful in terms of numbers, the midlands could have had a centre. The health board decided that each of three hospitals would have a little bit of the action. Some of it would be provided in Mullingar, some of it would be provided in Portlaoise and some of it would be provided in Tullamore. Even though over €7 million was allocated to develop the O'Higgins guidelines and multidisciplinary care, it was divided between three places, which was totally unsatisfactory.

Following that letter, a radiologist was appointed. Subsequent to her appointment, the hospital advertised for another radiologist. I understand that someone initially accepted the job and subsequently did not take up the appointment. I want to put on record that it is increasingly difficult to get leading specialists with a sub-speciality in something like breast cancer to take up positions in smaller hospitals. That is a fact. It is not just increasingly difficult to do so in Ireland. Based on what Professor Keane and others have told me, I understand it is a problem all over the world. Specialists with a sub-speciality in these areas want to work in big centres where there is a high volume of activity and where the environment for their work is conducive to excellence and good outcomes for their patients because of the sheer volume of activity.

I do not know if there are any other letters. We have in recent times involved the Chief Medical Officer and his team. There is a team of medics in the Department and I want to see them involved in patient safety issues. Regardless of whether the patient safety issue is raised by a doctor or patient — many such issues are raised with me by patients — I want to see the medical team in the Department involved in the follow-up to correspondence that comes to our attention, if that is possible.

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