Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 264: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the way a private clinic (details supplied) in County Dublin can carry out a specific surgery (details supplied). [22559/08]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 265: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the difference between the new breast cancer services proposed by a hospital (details supplied) in County Dublin and the services that are currently available in Mayo General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22560/08]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 266: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the way the delivery of a new service by a hospital (details supplied) in County Dublin would come under the Government's cancer plan. [22561/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 264 to 266, inclusive, together.

In June 2007, 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. The Commission is due to report to me next month.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 267: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the delivery of cancer services in a hospital (details supplied) in County Mayo could continue as a hub for a network of cancer centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22562/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Based on the National Quality Assurance Standards for Symptomatic Breast Disease Services, and the fact that the BreastCheck screening programme will significantly reduce the number of symptomatic breast cancer presentations, the Health Service Executive (HSE) determined that we require a total of eight specialist breast cancer centres nationally. In order to comply with the Standards, the HSE has directed seventeen hospitals to cease breast cancer services. Further staged reductions in the number of hospitals providing breast cancer services, including Mayo General Hospital, will occur over the next year in line with the development of quality assured capacity in the eight designated centres.

The HSE has designated University College Hospital Galway and Limerick Regional Hospital as the two cancer centres in the HSE Western Region, which includes County Mayo. 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 Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar.