Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I am raising this matter to draw attention to the need for the Minister for Health and Children to clarify the exact position on cancer care services at the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar. We have all heard the serious announcements of the Health Service Executive over recent days. Some 660 women have attended the hospital to have various tests but unfortunately 26 required further medical care. What is the timeframe of the HSE for implementing the changes to services at the hospital? Excellent care was given to all women in the hospital down through the years by Dr. McGill and his staff.

In the HSE statement we are told that 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 decision of the HSE in respect of the designation of four managed cancer control networks and eight cancer centres will be implemented on a managed and phased basis. The statement concludes by saying that the HSE plans to have completed about 80% to 90% of the transition of services to the cancer centres by the end of 2009. I want to hear the Minister of State say in plain English that those women attending the hospital under the care of Dr. McGill will continue to have their care attended to. Must all new patients go to the Mater Hospital in the future?

The Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar is the only hospital on the road from Dublin to Sligo, a distance in excess of 100 miles. It has a staff of almost 700 and 220 beds, increasing to 270 beds with stage 1 of phase 2B early in the new year. It is a serious hospital that provides magnificent services. Like the Cathaoirleach, who was chairman of the health board, I was a former member of the Midland Health Board for more than 18 years and we know the dedicated staff who work in the Midland Regional Hospital. There is nothing more important to us than the completion of stage 2 of phase 2B. I understand that all the various designs have been agreed, the Department of Health and Children and the hospital have recommended that the project proceeds and that value for money considerations have been assessed and completed.

It has been a serious disappointment to everyone in the midlands, particularly women in the midlands counties of Westmeath and Longford, because we serve Longford and Westmeath on a two-county basis. It is an extremely important health facility for the area. Looking forward, those of us in Longford and Westmeath must press on the Minister of State the importance of allowing the cancer care unit to continue until all the facilities and access in the Mater Hospital are in place and stage 2 of phase 2B is given the go ahead as soon as the builder vacates the site at the end of the year. Today was a watershed in Mullingar because I understand that the first nurses entered the first phase 2B, stage 1 of the great work taking place there.

I will give the last minute of my time to Senator McFadden who wishes to join with me in this regard this evening.