Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I appreciate the Minister taking the time to come into the House. I admire the way she listens to people and the care she has for them. She has an extremely difficult brief and I ask her to be open to the points made in this debate.

Three weeks ago we heard the shocking news from Mullingar Regional Hospital. People say politicians should not be parochial but I must because if Portlaoise, Mullingar and Portiuncula cancer services go, we will have no service in the midlands. We were told all of the patients being treated in Mullingar Regional Hospital will be treated in the Mater Hospital and that the respected Mr. Magill would retire and not be replaced, even though a specialist breast consultant already works in Mullingar. When I contacted the HSE, I was told we did not meet the standard because Mullingar only saw 26 new cases last year and 150 cases are necessary to ensure the correct diagnoses.

I then put myself in the position of a woman from the midlands being diagnosed or finding a breast lump. In such a situation I would like to attend a centre of excellence and get the best possible care the country could offer and, like Senator MacSharry, I believe there should be centres of excellence where people can have a triple assessment on-site or through an affiliated radiological centre. Records should be held on-line, with paper files being phased out. I could then have my mammogram, scan and biopsy in my local hospital and have the diagnosis assessed by a radiologist, a surgeon and a pathologist. We had such a service in Mullingar, although Mr. Magill is retiring.

I thought about this further, however, and considered how I would travel to the Mater Hospital. I had to this in the case of a friend of mine. We would leave Athlone at 5 a.m. so we would beat the traffic and arrive in Dublin at 8.30 a.m. The Minister might think that is a very long time but once we reached the Spa Hotel, it could take 90 minutes to get into the city. That is cruel for a sick person. I feel emotional about this because a good friend of mine was involved. We then reached the Mater Hospital, which was already bursting at the seams. When I contacted the HSE I was told extra resources would be provided for the Mater to deal with the capacity from the midlands and to support those women suffering from breast cancer. The reply was very vague.

I was told that those with a medical card would be facilitated with transport. I went on to the Internet to find the national treatment transport policy and read with interest that HSE transport policy will identify the current patient transport needs throughout the country. So far the group has met on a number of occasions and is in the process of developing a service, it is not even in place. I thought again about my journey and about those who are not lucky enough to have friends who can travel with them. Those people might have to get off the train to vomit. Such is the reality for those travelling from the midlands because there is no service.

There is a good service in Portiuncula. There should be an outreach centre from there to offer care to people in a humane way. I do not want to raise the case of Susie Long but I am trying to convey that heartbreak. I know the Minister cares and is doing her best. I am fearful, however, of Professor Drumm and the HSE and I have no confidence in the system.

Under the national spatial strategy, we aspire to the doubling of the population of the midlands in the next ten years. If that is the case, we will have 150 new breast cancer cases annually, not to mention all of the other acute illnesses. Mullingar should be a centre of excellence or have at least an affiliated centre where we could offer triple assessment to the population of the midlands. We deserve the same quality of care as the people in Dublin. Why have four centres of excellence in Dublin and none in the midlands? I feel very strongly about this and must be parochial. I look forward to Professor Keane's decision on the location of specialist care for the sick of the midlands.

I must raise another serious issue with the Minister regarding the roll-out of primary care units. On first being elected to Athlone Town Council, I was informed the town would be allocated a primary care unit. As I have indicated to the Minister several times, Athlone lacks an accident and emergency unit. The councillors were informed the town would be allocated a specialised primary care unit and that the project would go ahead. Last week, the HSE indicated to Athlone Town Council that it would probably go ahead. However, the local Government Deputy indicated that the project would never see the light of day in the current financial climate. I seek clarification in this regard. What is going on? Are funds available? Do the Minister's colleagues in Government not discuss important initiatives, such as the primary care unit in Athlone? Six months ago, before the general election, the Government's representatives were parading around the town and talking about this wonderful facility. However, the Government Deputy who represents Athlone has stated she does not believe this will happen. As Athlone lacks a health service, the Minister should clarify this matter. An announcement will take place this week and I want to know what it will be.