Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister to the House. There were some comments on this issue some time ago when the cancer control strategy was announced. We all welcome the concept of centres of excellence. I will follow up on that, although certain matters are coming to light which show issues remain to be dealt with in the north west as a matter of the utmost urgency. I hope the Minister will take my points on board.

I fully support and commend the Government's efforts to improve outcomes. We are all agreed, forgetting any party allegiances, this is most important. With regard to best care, a centre of excellence already exists in Sligo General Hospital. Multidisciplinary teams, working in the context of a triple-assessment approach, have produced the best results for patients and it is a rewarding environment for the professionals involved. Such a multidisciplinary team exists in Sligo, comprising specialist surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, medical and radiation oncologists and a breast care nurse. These are fully supported by dedicated outpatient nurses and a clerical team.

Weekly meetings are held to discuss all cancer cases and other diagnostic problems. At these meetings, care plans are formulated and subsequently implemented. Such a system has been in place in Sligo for the past six years. In my humble opinion, it serves the people and patients of the wider region very well.

Under the O'Higgins report in 2000, 13 specialist breast care centres were designated, as opposed to the current number, with Sligo General Hospital being one. Work began and the hospital now successfully operates in a multidisciplinary capacity, which we aspire to have in other centres of excellence throughout the country.

I would not expect the HSE to know that as the deputy chairman of the National Cancer Control Programme advisory committee, Tony O'Brien, admitted to me on national radio that no audit of services or facilities had been undertaken. Neither had there been an audit of outcomes in the area. How could we possibly determine that we should wind down a service which exists and is carrying out all we would aspire to have in centres of excellence? It is already taking place in that area.