Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Yes, I believe that to be the case. As the Deputy is aware, there is a recommendation in the Rebecca O'Malley report regarding which tissue should be the subject of a fine needle aspiration. I understand that doctors should be guided by ultrasound scans in order to identify which tissue to take.

Professor Drumm stated that another case is being investigated. That is not the cytology case to which Deputy Noonan referred and I apologise for not responding to his earlier question. I do not believe any information has been assembled as to whether there was a possible delayed diagnosis. The case in question does not involve a death but there may have been someone whose diagnosis was delayed. The case relates to Ennis and not any of the other hospitals.

In regard to Waterford, the breast surgeon from Clonmel has gone there. Professor Keane does not transfer services from a hospital until he is certain the resources are in place. Interviews took place recently and ten cancer doctors are being recruited, one for each centre. Some of them are surgeons and many are specialist radiologists. I understand there was a high level of interest from many excellent doctors. Further interviews are to take place to recruit other specialists for the eight centres.

In regard to licensing and so on, we do not have a licensing regime here for the public or the private sector. That is a deficiency we must act on as quickly as possible. It requires legislation which will be drafted and forthcoming as quickly as possible. Until we have a licensing regime, it is not possible to establish an organisation to close things down if we allow people to open without any permit or authorisation. We must ensure that in the way we fund hospitals, we only fund those places which operate to the standards we deem necessary.

For example, in regard to breast cancer, I spoke to the insurers to ensure they do not fund through insurance activities in places which do not live up to the new national standards. I have got that assurance from the VHI and I believe it will be forthcoming from the other insurers as well.

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