Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding seriously ill public cancer patients in accessing services; and if she will clarify the alleged claim that private patients get priority in accessing consultants. [28052/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The implementation of the National Cancer Control Programme is a major priority for me and for this Government. I fully support the appointment by the Health Service Executive (HSE) of Prof. Tom Keane as Interim National Cancer Control Director. The delivery of cancer services on a programmatic basis will serve to ensure equity of access to services and equality of patient outcome. The Programme will address regional disparities in cancer treatment, identify gaps in the provision of existing services and develop a national approach to timely access to diagnostic services for cancer.

I am firmly of the view that seriously ill cancer patients should be seen and treated solely on the basis of medical priority.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if private hospitals comply with minimum standards such as the recently approved national quality assurance standards for symptomatic breast disease services; and if a private hospital be in a position to offer full breast care services to women, that is, surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. [28053/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Last June, I approved National Quality Assurance Standards for Symptomatic Breast Disease Services under the Health Act 2007. I have called on hospitals in the independent sector to take steps to ensure that their breast cancer services comply with these Standards and I have brought the Standards to the attention of private healthcare insurers.

In January 2007, I established the Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance to develop proposals for a health service wide system of governance based on corporate accountability for the quality and safety of all health services. One of its terms of reference is to specifically examine and make recommendations in relation to a statutory system of licensing for public and private health care providers and services.