Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I have a number of questions. Who made the decision to move colposcopy services from the midlands region? What is the evidence for using 500 new patients as a threshold? I have contrary evidence that the requirement for each practising colposcopist is to see at least 50 new patients, according to information from the United Kingdom. I do not know where the new figure of 500 has come from and would like the matter to be clarified.

Why have the four units in the midlands not been found to be suitable? Every other unit in the country has been found to be suitable. It seems crazy. Where are the results of the assessments comparing different units? Why have we not seen them? Terms such as "scalable capacity" and "sustainable quality assurance" are gobbledygook. Does the phrase "geographical location" mean that consultants are expected to travel from one area of the midlands to another? The service is being eroded from the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar in front of our eyes. This is not acceptable.