Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Half of the women concerned were able to have that surgery at the same time as the mastectomy or the lumpectomy. Unfortunately, they cannot have the two procedures together in Mayo or Sligo because it requires the skills of a plastic surgeon or a specialist surgeon. Professor Kerin in Galway does it but he is unusual. Generally, it requires a plastic surgeon to be available also. It is desirable to carry out both operations at the same time, if the opportunity can be provided, instead of asking the women concerned to come back a second time and to go to Galway or Dublin for a second experience of surgery, which we know is not recommended.

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