Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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I wish to raise the serious allegations made by a Finnish pathologist that the pathological laboratory services in Cork University Hospital are in a chaotic situation and the serious implications for patients using these services if the allegations are proven to be correct.

In recent days, there were disturbing developments about the hiring of the locum specialist at the heart of the review of cancer tests of 166 patients. These developments raise serious questions about the structures, criteria and standards in place for the employment of locums, especially in view of the fact that glowing references for the locum in question had been provided for Cork University Hospital by University Hospital Galway as well as the news that he had received his licence to practise in Ireland just days after a Finnish investigation put a second negligence file on his record.

One of the questions that must be answered tonight is why this doctor was employed twice and given a glowing reference despite what happened in Finland. However, instead of answering questions and providing reassurances for the public, the Government in recent times has put in place approximately seven reviews that seem to go on forever, but they never report. Even if a report is near completion, we are told that legal obstacles may prevent or delay publication.

The Fine Gael spokesperson, Deputy Reilly, yesterday identified seven outstanding reports but despite these reports being in the pipeline, it is becoming more difficult to get answers on what is happening. The HSE and the Minister have refused to give details of any background checks carried out on the Finnish doctor it hired despite a finding of negligence against him in Finland. We got no answers to serious questions about the recruitment procedures applied to locum consultants, an issue that Deputy Martin was supposed to deal with during his time as Minister. We have no details and answers on what safeguards are being put in place for inter-country appointments.

The front page of today's Irish Examiner carried an article by Ms Catherine Shanahan containing disturbing comments made by the Finnish pathologist about the contrast in standards between University Hospital Galway and Cork University Hospital. This Finnish consultant has raised serious concerns about the systems in place for checking samples in Cork University Hospital. He also alleged that there are serious problems with Cork University Hospital's systems for testing samples, which he described as wrong and inferior to systems in place in Galway. He said:

The difference between the systems in Cork and Galway was as different as night and day. In Cork . . . the checkers and pathologist did not work side by side. I told them the system could not stand, that the consultant must be in daily contact with the checkers and look at each slide. They were not happy when I tried to change the system . . . It was not a happy experience and I resigned.

Every day it seems there are more problems, revelations and inconsistencies. The one constant aspect is a lack of accountability and answers from HSE management, the Department and the Minister. Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that the public will have confidence in the service unless we get some straight and immediate answers.

My questions are as follows. What system is in place to ensure the hiring of locums is up to an acceptable high standard? How many misdiagnoses occurred in Cork and does the recheck need to be extended to ally fears? Have the women of Cork who have suspected cases that were previously misdiagnosed been informed? When will the report about Cork be finished and will the Minister guarantee that it will be published before Christmas and will not be legally sanitised and news managed? Will the Minister accept responsibility for systems failures if these are found?

I am calling on the Minister to give answers as to what went wrong and what steps it is proposed to take to prevent such problems recurring in the future. It is the very least that should be done for those women who have already been so badly failed by cancer services in this country.

I want answers to the allegations made by Finnish pathologist, Dr. Antoine Geagea, that the only contact he has received from Ireland after resigning his job at CUH was a telephone call from someone claiming to be an official from the Department of Health and Children requesting a copy of the reference he received when leaving Galway to take up his post in Cork. I want answers to the serious allegations made by him, as reported in today's Irish Examiner, about the quality of services at Cork University Hospital.

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I am replying to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney.

The allegation made by the person referred to by the Deputy, that laboratory services within Cork University Hospital are in a chaotic situation, is neither credible nor grounded in reality. The HSE has advised the Department of Health and Children that, to date, three laboratories at CUH have successfully achieved a high level of clinical pathology accreditation, CPA. These are the biochemistry, microbiology and blood transfusion laboratories. The histopathology laboratory, which includes cytopathology services, is awaiting assessment for the same accreditation. It is expected this will take place in mid-2008. This is a non-mandatory process which was undertaken by CUH with the full support of the executive management board.

The current position in relation to the review of pathology services in CUH is as follows. Since last September, 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 there 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 last. The Minister understands that, in the course of this review so far, a small number of patients have been recalled for review and appropriate follow-up by their doctor. The HSE has informed the Department 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 Department 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 this person now 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 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 month. 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 relation to 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.

In conclusion, 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.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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I did not get answers to any of my questions.