Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I hope that we will be able to get some answers in the debate about the uncertainty surrounding media reports of a review of a pathologist's work at Cork University Hospital. Media reports refer to a locum pathologist who was in place in the Cork University Hospital from July to August of this year, a term of approximately six weeks. Since then a number of cases have been sent to a laboratory in London for review. We are not sure how many cases are involved. There was mention in a newspaper yesterday of 1,000 cases. There are also reports that 15 patients out of 166 have been recalled and sent for further examination.

Yesterday, Deputy Kenny raised this matter with the Taoiseach on Leaders' Questions and the Taoiseach confirmed that there was a review going on in Cork University Hospital related to a pathologist. He did not give details of exactly how many cases were involved. When asked when the Minister was made aware of it, the Taoiseach stated she was informed on 23 November, despite the fact that the review is ongoing since September. That was five days ago, the day after the information came out in the Joint Committee on Health and Children. Was it a case of this having to come out too and of informing the Minister now, or would she have been informed at all were it not for the publicity last Thursday?

There are serious questions and much information which is not coming out and which people have not got. That is leading to much concern about the pathology services in Cork University Hospital. I have read reports that this pathologist was previously employed in Galway and left there due to uncertainty and difficulty surrounding the work that was being carried out in the pathology department. Did this person come directly from Galway to Cork or was there a gap in between? If there were concerns about the work that was being carried on, how come they were not relayed to Cork University Hospital? If this person was working in Galway, are there concerns about the work that was being done there by this pathologist?

There are many questions that I want answered. I do not have the information to make a five-minute speech, but I am glad that the Minister of State is here and I hope we will get some resolution to the uncertainty surrounding this situation.

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank Deputy Clune for raising this matter.

The current position on the review of pathology services in Cork University Hospital is as follows. Since September last, hospital management at CUH has been carrying out a review of pathology services at the hospital as a result of concerns about the work of a single pathologist who worked in that hospital on a locum basis for a short period in recent months. Hospital management commissioned an accredited UK laboratory to undertake an independent review of the temporary pathologist's work.

The Minister for Health and Children and her Department were informed of this review on 23 November. The Minister understands that in the course of this review so far, several patients have already been recalled for review and appropriate care by their doctor. The Minister understands that any further patients who need review will be contacted and offered appropriate care as soon as they are identified. The HSE has informed departmental officials that it will conclude this review shortly.

The pathologist concerned resigned from his position at the request of hospital management at CUH, when information relating to his work became known. The HSE has informed the Minister that this pathologist no longer works in any of its hospitals. Steps have been taken to ensure that the regulatory authorities in the jurisdiction where it is believed this person resides have been informed so that they can take appropriate action.

The immediate priorities in any review of clinical services are to establish whether the care of any patient has been compromised and, if so, to inform those patients and ensure they receive, as a matter of priority, any necessary clinical assessment and other services and supports. The Department is working closely with the HSE to ensure that these protocols are applied in the case of the Cork review. The HSE has also indicated that it will publish the results of the review in Cork when it is completed.

The events of recent weeks underscore the absolute need for the HSE National Cancer Control Programme to be implemented as soon as possible. Professor Tom Keane took up his position as director of the cancer control programme last week. The HSE is putting arrangements in place to enable Professor Keane to take control of all new cancer developments from 1 January 2008 and, progressively, all existing cancer services and related funding and staffing.

The delivery of cancer services on a programmatic basis will serve to ensure equity of access to services and equality of patient outcome irrespective of geography. The recent decisions of the HSE in four managed cancer control networks and eight cancer centres will be implemented on a managed and phased basis. The designated centres for the HSE southern region are Cork University Hospital and Waterford Regional Hospital.

The Government is committed to continuing to make the full range of cancer services available and accessible to cancer patients throughout Ireland in accordance with best international standards, including in the southern region.