Máire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Many of the questions I asked have not been answered, which is disappointing. For the past year or so, or perhaps a bit longer, the patients were very competently served by a previous oncologist with a specialism in sarcoma. All they are looking for is somebody with expertise, interest, knowledge and research relating to sarcoma. There was something rotten, perhaps, in the state of the health service and being "off-sited" to St. Luke's, which is not, from the Minister of State's response, a centre of excellence for sarcoma. This only allows a consultant to take blood and give results but previously there was a good record in St. Vincent's hospital of hands-on, modern and effective treatment. It is a real concern and perhaps this is related to the politics of St. Vincent's hospital. Sin scéal eile for another day.

I must impress on the Minister of State the need to get an immediate answer to those questions. This will shut down on Friday. We do not know the timeline but people will be invited for interview and the interviewing panel, I hope, will consist of an expert. We need to know how long the process will take. If somebody is chosen and takes the post, there may be a delay in moving from one job to another. Four months would be a long time, although it seems realistic. Again, patients would be left in limbo and left between two stools. I would appreciate an immediate response from the Minister, Deputy Harris.