Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-North Leitrim, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am grateful for the opportunity to raise this issue. It is widely known that the situation regarding the provision of cancer services in Sligo General Hospital has been very difficult during the past 18 months. Despite the best efforts of Deputy Devins, Senator Mark MacSharry and me, the diagnosing and surgical services have been moved to University Hospital Galway. I am very disappointed that has happened.

During that period Opposition parties made what I can only describe as a political football out of the situation in Sligo General Hospital. Opposition politicians who came to Sligo gave assurances on this, that and the other and promised the people there that when they returned to the Dáil after the summer recess they would table Private Members' motions on the retention of cancer services in Sligo General Hospital. The leaders of the two main Opposition parties were asked to sign pledges for the continuation of services in Sligo General Hospital, but they refused to do that. Despite that, their spokespeople gave assurances that they would raise the issue in the Dáil. They were supposed to do that in October, but it is now November and that still has not happened.

During the course of the deliberations on the transfer of diagnostics and surgery to University Hospital Galway, quite a number of meetings took place with the local committee on the services that would be provided in Sligo General Hospital following the transfer of services to University Hospital Galway. The Minister, Deputy Harney, Professor Drumm, and Professor Keane were in attendance at one meeting in particular at which guaranteed assurances were given to the people availing of the services in Sligo General Hospital, to people who had already availed of surgical services at that hospital, and to people who would have cancer surgery in University Hospital Galway and follow-up treatment in Sligo General Hospital, that mammography services and clinics would be available for these people in Sligo General Hospital.

I have received numerous letters during the past three weeks about this issue. It has been widely stated on local radio by many women, who are in a very distressed state, that they are being told different stories. I understand the director of the national cancer control programme issued a statement last week to the local radio station indicating that nothing had changed and that people would receive services in Sligo General Hospital. The people are being told something different apparently in the hospital. People are in doubt about the services that are being provided in Sligo General Hospital. That is not fair. This is an issue that needs to be resolved, however that may happen, even if it means that a person from the national care strategy comes to Sligo General Hospital to meet these people.

We all have had friends who had cancer. We all know the stress of that on a family. These people certainly do not need any more stress. They should not be left in doubt as to where they will have their next clinical appointment or mammogram. There were two radiologists in Sligo General Hospital and I understand one of them retired recently. Perhaps this is causing a problem. If do not know that it is, but if it is, people should be told.

Will the Minister ensure that this issue resolved one way or another and let the people know the position? That is the least they expect. If the services will not be provided in Sligo General Hospital, the people should be honestly told that. We are talking about sick people who are suffering and who do not really know their future. They deserve much more than the current position. What is happening is wrong.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am replying to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney.

I welcome the opportunity to set out the current position on cancer services at Sligo General Hospital. Deputies may recall a previous debate relating to the transfer of breast cancer diagnostic and surgical services from Sligo General Hospital to University Hospital Galway last April. In that debate, the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Haughey, outlined the rationale and objectives of the restructuring of cancer services under the national cancer control programme. As he stated then, the goals of the programme are better cancer prevention, detection and survival through a national service based on evidence and best practice for all cancers. This involves significant realignment of cancer services to move to a system which is consistent with best international practice in cancer control. Diagnosis and treatment planning for all cancers will ultimately be directed and managed by multidisciplinary teams based at eight cancer centres, but much of the treatment other than surgery, including chemotherapy, may be delivered in local hospitals.

The reorganisation of breast cancer diagnosis and surgery, which was the first priority for the national cancer control programme, is now almost complete with just one hospital awaiting transfer of these services. In the case of Sligo General Hospital, breast cancer diagnosis and surgery were transferred to University Hospital Galway on 6 August 2009. New patients are now referred to the symptomatic breast cancer service in Galway, which receives 15 to 20 referrals per week from Sligo-Leitrim and the surrounding area. A small number of women from the area are being referred to the Dublin centres.

Diagnosis and treatment planning are directed and managed by the multidisciplinary team in University Hospital Galway. Patients have their surgery and radiation oncology, if required, in University Hospital Galway. Medical oncology, for example, chemotherapy, which constitutes the majority of cancer services at Sligo General Hospital, continues to be provided there and the medical oncologist in Sligo General Hospital participates by video-conference in the multidisciplinary team meetings in University Hospital Galway of both the symptomatic breast cancer service and BreastCheck. The breast care nurse based in Sligo General Hospital follows up women with minor complications locally and provides ongoing support and breast care if necessary.

Other cancer services at the hospital are not affected. Other than skin cancer, which usually involves minor surgery, and a limited volume of bowel cancer cases, the vast majority of other curative cancer surgeries have never been undertaken at Sligo General Hospital, but are routinely referred to one of the eight designated cancer centres.

All resources associated with the breast cancer service in Sligo General Hospital were left in place until 1 November to facilitate the hospital in fulfilling its obligations to patients who were referred prior to 6 August but had not yet been seen. This process is now almost complete and it is anticipated that the remaining patients will be seen by the end of this week.

For review patients, follow-up mammography has been provided in the hospital since 6 August. The national cancer control programme is satisfied that a safe service can be provided in the short term with the equipment and experienced radiology and radiography personnel in Sligo General Hospital, as has happened in the case of other transitions. Follow-up mammography will continue to be provided in Sligo General Hospital into the future, as an outreach service from University Hospital Galway.

It is the responsibility of the relevant consultant and the hospital to arrange appropriate follow-up care for pre-existing patients following the transfer. The national cancer control programme has offered any assistance to the hospital that it may require in arranging these follow-ups.

The transition period for the transfer of breast cancer diagnosis and surgery from Sligo General Hospital is almost complete and the national cancer control programme is available to provide any assistance to the hospital that is required in arranging appropriate follow-up care for its pre-existing patients following the transfer. Only breast cancer diagnostic and surgical services have been transferred from Sligo General Hospitals and all other services, including medical oncology, remain in place.