Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 205: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a decision will be made in relation to the provision of a centre of excellence in County Sligo; the number of meetings she has had with the Health Service Executive in relation to the matter; the number of deputations she or her Ministers of State has met in relation to the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15391/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has designated University College Hospital Galway and Limerick Regional Hospital as the two cancer centres in the Managed Cancer Control Network for the HSE Western Region, which includes Sligo. The designation of cancer centres aims to ensure that patients receive the highest quality care while at the same time allowing local access to services, where appropriate. Where diagnosis and treatment planning is directed and managed by multi-disciplinary teams based at the cancer centres, then much of the treatment (other than surgery) can be delivered in local hospitals, such as Sligo General Hospital. In this context, chemotherapy and support services will continue to be delivered locally. Cancer day care units, including at Sligo General Hospital, will continue to have an important role in delivering services to patients as close to home as possible.

The decisions of the HSE in relation to four managed cancer control networks and eight cancer centres will be implemented on a managed and phased basis. Professor Tom Keane, Director of the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme, is currently engaging in detailed planning to facilitate the orderly phased transfer of services between locations. The key objective of the National Cancer Control Programme is to ensure equity of access to services and equality of patient mortality and survival irrespective of geography. This will involve significant re-alignment of cancer services to move from the present fragmented system of care to one which is consistent with international best practice in cancer control.

I have not had a specific meeting with the HSE in relation to cancer services in Sligo General Hospital. However, I have had meetings with Professor Keane in relation to the overall implementation of the National Cancer Control Programme. I understand that Minister of State Brendan Smith has had one meeting in relation to cancer services in Sligo. Minister of State Pat the Cope Gallagher has had three meetings regarding services in the North West, including Sligo. Minister of State Jimmy Devins, in his capacity as TD for Sligo-North Leitrim has met numerous delegations both formally and informally in relation to cancer services in Sligo. Minister of State Máire Hoctor has not had any meetings in relation to cancer services in Sligo.