Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the provisions that have been put in place to assist patients affected by the immediate closure of breast cancer services at 13 hospitals nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24079/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The recent decisions of the Health Service Executive (HSE) to designate four managed cancer control networks and eight cancer centres will be implemented on a managed and phased basis. A detailed transitional plan will be put in place to facilitate the progressive, gradual and carefully managed transfer of services over the next two years or so. The HSE plans to have completed 50% of the transition of services to the cancer centres by end 2008 and 80-90% by end 2009. In relation to breast cancer specifically, the HSE plans to have completed 60% of the transition by end 2008 and 90% by end 2009.

In order to comply with the National Quality Assurance Standards for Symptomatic Breast Disease, the HSE has directed thirteen hospitals with very low case volumes to cease breast cancer services immediately. The thirteen hospitals concerned performed a combined total number of 55 breast cancer procedures in 2005. A number of these hospitals had in practice already discontinued symptomatic breast services. The National Hospitals Office has already planned the redirection of this symptomatic caseload. Further staged reductions in the number of hospitals providing breast cancer services will occur over the next two years in line with the development of quality assured capacity in the eight designated centres.