Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The HIQA report announced earlier in the year was on a review of symptomatic breast disease in both Limerick Regional Hospital and including the pathology services at Cork and at Cork University Hospital. This was one part of the review. The CUH review is a separate review of the same hospital. There is also a review at Portlaoise. Other changes have taken place in the system during the course of the year, including decisions made about cases from Mullingar General Hospital being referred to the Mater Hospital and about which I answered questions some weeks ago. However, if I recall correctly, that decision came about as a result of the pending retirement of the consultant rather than a review of work.

The Department and the Minister were informed of the review on 23 November. It seems that the review began some time in September since when the hospital management at CUH have been carrying out a review of the pathology services at the hospital as a result of concerns about the work of a single pathologist who worked in the hospital on a locum basis for a short period. As I do not have an exact number of patients, I cannot confirm whether it is 15 patients as requested by Deputy Kenny. In the course of that review, several patients have already been recalled for review. It is not stated what the purpose of the review is but it is obvious some of the work was considered and these patients were recalled. They were given appropriate care by their doctor. The HSE has informed departmental officials that this review will be completed shortly and that patients who need review will be contacted and offered appropriate care as soon as they are identified. Anyone who has been identified in that review to date has been dealt with and the work is ongoing.

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