Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I am very grateful to Senator Cassidy for his generous allocation of time. My concern is that the centre of excellence in the Mater Hospital has not been set up. Last Friday, the Minister took it upon herself with one fell swoop to cease the delivery of services at the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar.

As Senator Cassidy said, Dr. McGill provided an excellent service and I cannot see why this service cannot continue. It could be an outreach centre where women can undergo mammograms which would be read by the preferred option of a pathologist, surgeon and radiologist in Dublin. I believe this should happen and that women should not be discommoded and forced to travel over 100 miles to Dublin. A very good friend of mine found herself in this situation and had to leave Athlone at 5 a.m. to travel for chemotherapy. I cannot see why this service could not be delivered on a local outreach basis.

I am concerned because the centre of excellence has not been established in the Mater Hospital and no transport arrangements have been made for the women in question to travel to that hospital. I received an e-mail from the Health Service Executive which said that people without cars could avail of transport if they had a medical card or they could see the community welfare officer. That is an insult to these women, who are suffering and vulnerable, and I ask the Minister of State to look again at the situation until the proper transport services are put in place and the centre of excellence has been established in the Mater Hospital. I thank the Cathaoirleach for his indulgence.