Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she expects the review of radiology at the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth to be finalised and published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28851/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The ongoing review of the chest x-rays and CT scans of approximately 4,600 patients in the North East commenced in mid-May and is expected to conclude within eight weeks. The review covers the period from August 2006 to August 2007. All patients and their families will be contacted by letter when their chest x-ray or CT scan has been reviewed. When all the x-rays and CT scans have been reviewed, a report will be produced which will detail the background to the review, the methodology, the outcome and the learning from the review. It is expected that the final report will issue within four weeks of the completion of the review.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the services being removed from the Dóchas Centre, Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth; if she is satisfied that all consultants and staff working in the Dóchas Centre have been consulted about such proposed changes and agree with them; if not, the reason for same; if the Health Service Executive have in particular discussed the proposed changes with a person (details supplied); if she will provide categoric assurances to all patients and staff that at least the same level of service will be available in Beaumont Hospital as is in Drogheda; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28852/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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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 has determined that we require eight specialist breast cancer centres nationally. To comply with the assurance standards, the HSE has directed 17 hospitals to cease breast cancer services. Further staged reductions in the number of hospitals providing breast cancer services will occur over the next year in line with the development of quality assured capacity in the eight centres. The director of the national cancer control programme has confirmed that services from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda will transfer to Beaumont Hospital in September. The Programme will ensure that adequate capacity is in place prior to the transfer of services from Drogheda. 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 multidisciplinary teams based at the centres, much of the treatment other than surgery can be delivered in local hospitals, such as Drogheda. Chemotherapy and support services will continue to be delivered locally. The specific questions raised by the Deputy in relation to consultations regarding the transfer of breast cancer services are the responsibility of the HSE under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this regard.