Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I wish to share time with Senator Glynn. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss the important matter. While I am concerned about general downgrading of services in the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar, I raise in particular the urgent and grave matter of the downgrading of colposcopy services in the hospital. Women in the midlands deserve to have a colposcopy service. One of the most frightening moments any woman will experience is learning from her gynaecologist that a smear is abnormal. While an abnormal smear could mean a woman has cancer, the majority of such smears are caused by vaginal infection.

A pilot scheme headed by Dr. O'Reilly from Limerick was established in the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar. As part of a plan, 19 centres around the country were in a position to participate in the screening programme. The programme was introduced in hospitals with full gynaecological services, namely, obstetrician, gynaecologist and inpatient services. The Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar, which has a full service, was assessed and deemed a suitable location for the screening programme and funding of €100,000 was provided. This money was spent on upgrading facilities at the hospital to provide a colposcopy suite and the programme was to link in with the national programme.

In October 2008, Dr. Flannery, who headed up the pilot scheme in place in the various centres, indicated that the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar was not a suitable location for the service. However, she invited management at the hospital to submit a bid for the colposcopy service. Following submission of a bid, a reply issued by the quality officer at the beginning of this month stated that the hospital was not a suitable location for the service. The hospital was informed it did not have a sufficient number of potential patients as each centre should expect to treat 500 patients per annum. It is estimated, however, that between them, Mullingar and Portlaoise hospitals would have 850 patients per annum.

While the regional plan envisages the provision of a service in the midlands, I fear that, as in the case of the sexual assault unit, the service will be provided in Tullamore General Hospital. Any such decision would stink of politics because Tullamore General Hospital does not provide gynaecological services, employ an obstetrician or have a maternity unit. The Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar, on the other hand, provides all these inpatient facilities and has spent €100,000 on the colposcopy unit.

The Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar has lost its breast cancer service. Although I accept the necessity for centres of excellence to undertake the screening and treatment of breast cancer, I resent the gradual but consistent erosion of services in the wonderful facility of the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar. This trend will cause instability and dysfunction in the hospital and is demoralising staff. The average turnaround for patients in the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar is 3.5 days and, as Senator Glynn will agree, it is probably the most efficient hospital in the country.

I ask that the colposcopy service be retained for women in the midlands. It is already difficult for people in counties Longford, Westmeath and Laois to travel to Tullamore. Let us retain the central service in the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar.