Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Following concerns raised by staff in the breast service, the HSE set up a clinical review last autumn of all breast radiology diagnoses in the Midland Regional Hospital from November 2003 to August 2007. That review was led by Dr. Ann O'Doherty, a consultant radiologist at St. Vincent's University Hospital and with BreastCheck. The HSE has advised that this review is complete. Nine women were identified as having a diagnosis of cancer and all nine have been offered appropriate treatment. A clinical review of ultrasounds at Portlaoise is also complete and no cancers were detected in this review.

The HSE has advised the Department of Health and Children that a report on the reviews will be published by the HSE when the necessary legal requirements have been completed. A target date of the end of this month has been set for publication. The legal issues relate to the necessity to give an opportunity to those who are mentioned in the report to make their defence or their statements. The suspension of mammography services at Portlaoise continues pending publication of these reports.

The Minister for Health and Children has asked the chief executive officer of the HSE for a report on the circumstances that led to the decisions of the executive to suspend the breast radiology services at the hospital, place a consultant radiologist on administrative leave and initiate a clinical review of the services. That report, which was led by Dr. Ann O'Doherty, has been completed and will be submitted to the chief executive officer of the HSE. The Minister also asked for a report from the board of the HSE on the management of all events starting from and subsequent to these decisions. That report is being undertaken by Mr. John Fitzgerald. It is not finished but is being drafted.

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