Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to set out the current position to Deputies Clune and Lynch in respect of the restructuring of cancer services, with particular reference to breast cancer services in the South Infirmary-Victoria University Hospital, Cork.

The implementation of the national quality assurance standards for symptomatic breast disease will ensure that every woman in Ireland who develops breast cancer has an equal opportunity to be managed in a centre that is capable of delivering the best possible results. In order to comply with the standards, the Health Service Executive has directed 17 hospitals to cease breast cancer services. Further staged reductions in the number of hospitals providing symptomatic breast disease services will occur over the next 18 months in line with the transfer of services to the eight designated cancer centres nationally.

The HSE has identified Cork University Hospital, CUH, as one of the designated specialist cancer centres for the southern region. The plan therefore will consolidate symptomatic breast cancer services in Cork University Hospital. This involves a transfer of the South Infirmary symptomatic breast service to CUH. The CUH has identified the necessary space to house the programme.

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