James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason she had to wait 19 months to be informed by her Department or the Health Service Executive of serious concerns regarding breast treatment services at Barrington's Hospital taking into account that a senior official had raised concerns with the HSE; the steps the HSE has taken to ensure that she is informed in a timely manner in future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24135/07]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason taking into account that she and HIQA had no remit over private hospitals in August 2007 but were able to take action on Barrington's, she did not take action on Barrington's in 2006 when the same restrictions existed and if her attention has been drawn to the concerns in the hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24147/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 187 together.

In June 2005, a number of concerns aboutbreast cancer services at Barrington's Hospital, Limerick were expressed over the phone to an official of my Department by a Consultant employed by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The majority of the concerns reflected the fact that the breast cancer service at Barringtons Hospital had a relatively low patient throughput and limited specialist staffing levels. At that time, there were similar concerns in relation to the fragmentation of cancer services nationally, including breast cancer services, a matter that the Department was seeking to address in the context of the preparation of the National Cancer Control Strategy. As part of this process, I established an Expert Group in June 2005, on the recommendation of my Department, to develop National Quality Assurance Standards for Symptomatic Breast Disease Services.

In relation to Barringtons Hospital, my Department was not furnished with any documentary or other evidence in support of the concerns that had been expressed. It formed the view that there was insufficient evidence available to allow it to pursue these concerns directly with the hospital. This remained the situation up to August this year despite consultations with the HSE and further telephone contacts with the consultant.

In August of this year my Department received correspondence from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) advising that it had obtained patient-specific information in relation to the adequacy of breast cancer services at Barringtons Hospital from the Consultant who had previously been in touch with my Department. HIQA indicated that that information had been reviewed by two specialists in the field of symptomatic breast disease. On the basis of these reviews, HIQA advised that it had formed a view that serious issues existed in relation to the management of current and future patients with symptomatic breast disease at the hospital.

In the light of this new information and the briefing I received, officials in my Department, at my request, immediately met with the Management of Barringtons Hospital and obtained agreement to the immediate suspension of all breast cancer work there. This suspension remains in place. In co-operation with the hospital, an expert group has been established to undertake a clinical review of the cases of women who attended the symptomatic breast disease services at the Hospital between September 2003 and August last. The group expects to complete its work in November.

I recently approved Standards for Symptomatic Breast Disease Services which were developed by the Expert Group that I referred to earlier. The aim of the Standards is to ensure that every woman in Ireland who develops breast cancer has an equal opportunity to be managed in a centre which is capable of delivering the best possible outcome. My Department has contacted hospitals in the independent sector urging them to take steps to ensure that their breast cancer services comply with the Standards and has also brought the Standards to the attention of private health care insurance providers.