Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

The PET scanner I shall refer to has nothing to do with pets. It is a positron emission tomography, PET, scanner which shows how an organ works or how a damaged heart, for example, is functioning. It shows blood flows through the brain and can indicate potential tumours. It is used in areas of cardiology, urology and oncology.

Last May I asked why the HSE had not employed an operator for the PET scanner at Cork University Hospital, as people had to go to Dublin to have this scan. The reply was to the effect that the completion date for the building works was June 2009, and that there would be an equipment installation period. I am sure when that reply came, from the HSE last May, it did not envisage a nine month installation period for the equipment.

This equipment cost €3.8 million and is sitting idle because the HSE cannot afford to put a person in place to operate it. Hence people in the south are being sent either to the Mater Hospital or St. James's Hospital in Dublin for this scan, at their own expense. In 2008, some 108 PET scans were referred from the HSE south area. We do not know the figure for 2009, but the 108 PET scans in 2008 cost the HSE south €250,000, despite having €3.8 million worth of equipment lying idle because there was no operator.

The HSE has described the PET scanner as being crucial in the management of cancer patients as it allows more accurate diagnoses. It allows more accurate diagnosis of cancer. In addition, the PET scanner will augment the delivery of cancer services in the HSE south region.

When cancer services were withdrawn at Kerry General Hospital, we were promised that we would have a centre of excellence for such services at Cork University Hospital. A vital component of that would be the PET scanner which has been purchased. In addition, the building has been constructed. In May 2009, I asked the question and was told that the completion period would be in September. However, here we are, six months later, and the PET scanner is not yet up and running. This is causing a lot of distress to people. For anyone suffering from cancer, the idea of having to travel to Dublin for such treatment is unthinkable. Those suffering from cancer will not make a big issue of the cost of going to Dublin for this treatment, but it is inconvenient. When people are sick the last thing they want is to have to take the road to Dublin for a PET scan. The equipment is in Cork University Hospital at a cost of €3.8 million, but it is not operational because there is no staff member there to run it. I ask the Minister of State to get that PET scanner up and running in Cork University Hospital as soon as possible for the benefit of those patients who need it.

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