James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 285: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason the Health Information and Quality Authority was not asked to investigate circumstances surrounding the misdiagnosis of women in Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11502/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Last August, the Health Service Executive decided to commission an independent external clinical review of the radiology breast service at the Midland Regional Hospital at Portlaoise. This review was carried out by Dr. Ann O' Doherty, Clinical Director, BreastCheck, Merrion Unit in Dublin. Her report was published last month.

In addition, I published two reports in relation to Portlaoise last month: (i) Ann Doherty Report into the HSE decisions to suspend breast radiology services, carry out a clinical review of symptomatic breast radiology services (by Dr. Ann O'Doherty) and place a consultant radiologist on administrative leave and (ii) John Fitzgerald Report into the management, governance and communications issues arising from the review above.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 286: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the date the Health Information and Quality Authority review of Mid-Western Regional Hospital's symptomatic breast disease services and Cork University Hospital's pathology services, following the misdiagnosis of a person (details supplied), which was originally due in November 2007, will be complete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11503/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Information and Quality Authority commenced the investigation referred to by the Deputy in June 2007. The report was published today.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 287: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of the further 28 patients recommended for reassessment by a consultant (details supplied); if they were all contacted in a timely fashion and treated appropriately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11504/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) report of their investigation into the care provided to Rebecca O'Malley by the Health Service Executive (HSE) was published today. It refers to a group of 24 patients who followed a similar pathway of care to Rebecca O'Malley. The review of the slides of the 24 patients by three expert pathologists on the investigation team found no change in diagnosis to be necessary. However, the case reviews of these patients identified seven patients for precautionary follow-up of ultrasound imaging. This was recommended by HIQA on the advice of the investigation team and carried out by the HSE.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, in relation to the Health Information and Quality Authority review of Mid-Western Regional Hospital's symptomatic breast disease services and Cork University Hospital's pathology services, the scope of the review has been extended to the period a person (details supplied) worked at Cork University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11505/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The investigation by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) into the Mid-Western Regional Hospital's symptomatic breast disease services and Cork University Hospital's pathology services commenced in June 2007. The report was published today. The Authority did not include the work of the person referred to by the Deputy in its review.

However, I have been informed by the Health Service Executive that the independent review of the work of the temporary pathologist commissioned by Cork University Hospital (CUH) management is at an advanced stage. The report is near completion and following this it will be submitted to the Director of the National Hospitals Office for consideration. The Health Service Executive has emphasised that this review relates only to diagnostic tests carried out by one temporary consultant pathologist at CUH over a seven week period in July and August 2007.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 289: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of a report (details supplied) into the treatment of at least 10 women at Barrington's Hospital; when this report will be published in view of the fact that an interim report deadline due on 31 October 2007 was missed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11506/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 290: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason, since the Health Service Executive was aware of concerns about Barrington's Hospital as far back as January 2006 and in view of the time scope of the enquiry which goes back to 2003, the Health Service Executive did not take action until July 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11507/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 290 together.

As I have previously advised the Deputy, my Department was not furnished with any documentary or other evidence in support of the concerns that had been expressed by a particular HSE Consultant in relation to Barrington's Hospital. 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 last year despite consultations with the HSE and various telephone contacts with the Consultant.

Last August, 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 Barrington's Hospital from the Consultant. HIQA indicated that the 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, officials in my Department, at my request, immediately met with the Management of Barrington's Hospital and obtained agreement to the immediate suspension of all breast cancer work there. It was agreed to undertake an independent review of patients' files in the Hospital during the period 1 September, 2003 to 10 August, 2007.

The Chairperson of the review team is Dr. Henrietta Campbell, Chief Executive Officer of the All-Ireland Cancer Foundation and former Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland and she informed me that Barrington's Hospital co-operated in full with the review process. Barrington's Hospital published the report of this review yesterday.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 291: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of the Health Information and Quality Authority review of pathology services at University College Hospital Galway which began after it was revealed in August 2007 that a Tipperary woman, Miss A, had her diagnosis delayed by 18 months after it was sent to the University College Hospital, Galway laboratory in September 2005; when this report will be published since it was originally due at the end of 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11508/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The investigation by the Health Information and Quality Authority into pathology services at University College Hospital Galway in the context referred to by the Deputy was commenced in September 2007. I am naturally keen that the report be completed and published as soon as possible. I am aware that, in the interest of thoroughness, the Authority extended the original scope of the investigation on two occasions in light of information that emerged as part of the investigation. I am informed that significant progress has been made and that the work is now nearing completion. It is anticipated that the investigation will be concluded by the end of April 2008 and that the report will be published as soon as possible thereafter.