Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the steps she will take to ensure the establishment of a warfarin clinic at University College Hospital Galway in view of the fact that this is the centre of highest population in the western region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22068/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans with regard to the breast care unit in Sligo General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22070/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The HSE has designated four managed cancer control networks (coterminous with the four HSE administrative regions) and eight cancer centres nationally. The two designated cancer centres in the HSE Western Region are University College Hospital Galway and Limerick Regional Hospital.

I recently approved National Quality Assurance Standards for Symptomatic Breast Disease Services under the Health Act 2007. Arising from the designation of cancer centres and in order to comply with the Standards, the Executive has directed thirteen hospitals, with low case volumes (less than twenty procedures per year) to cease breast cancer services immediately, to be followed by further staged reductions in the number of hospitals providing breast cancer services from twenty-two to the eight cancer centres. A number of the thirteen hospitals have in practice already discontinued symptomatic breast services. The National Hospitals Office has already planned the redirection of this symptomatic caseload. Additional groups of hospitals, including Sligo General Hospital will be similarly directed, in line with the further development of quality assured capacity in the eight designated centres.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans with regard to the breast care unit in Letterkenny General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22072/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The HSE has designated four managed cancer control networks (coterminous with the four HSE administrative regions) and eight cancer centres nationally. The two designated cancer centres in the HSE Western Region are University College Hospital Galway and Limerick Regional Hospital.

However, it is fully recognised that there are particular and unique geographical circumstances applying to Donegal. This is reflected in North-South co-operation in the provision of radiation oncology to patients from Donegal at Belfast City Hospital. On a sole exception basis, the Managed Cancer Control Network in the West will therefore be permitted to enter into outreach service delivery in Letterkenny as an additional activity. This exception is subject to quality assurance criteria and also to the proviso that the potential to meet the needs of cancer patients in Donegal through North-South initiatives, such as the Belfast radiation oncology service must be optimised and fully facilitated.

The HSE has decided that breast services at Letterkenny General Hospital should be delivered as part of the services at University College Hospital Galway. A breast service clinical network is currently operating between Letterkenny and Galway. The service includes weekly meetings of combined multi-disciplinary teams, facilitated by telemedicine.