James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 387: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients diagnosed as having breast cancer at the South Infirmary Hospital, Cork during the first six months of 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29413/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 398: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of breast cancer cases dealt with at Cork University Hospital in 2007 and in the six months to June 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29428/08]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 387 and 398 together.

Last June I approved National Quality Assurance Standards for Symptomatic Breast Disease Services under the Health Act 2007. The Health Service Executive (HSE) National Cancer Control Programme decided to centralise breast cancer services in eight designated specialist centres. The decision to consolidate the symptomatic breast service provided by South Infirmary and Cork University Hospital (CUH) for the Southern region into the designated cancer centre at CUH is consistent with this approach.

It is important to emphasise that the decision to reorganise services is about achieving optimum outcomes. This is not in itself a value judgement about the work being carried on in the existing centres, some of which have a relatively large workload, but will not be part of the future designated centres. In order to achieve the very best outcomes we need to concentrate cancer services in designated cancer centres. This necessarily means that some centres which are well organised and have a significant case load will nonetheless need to transfer that work to other locations. I am confident that the consolidated service will meet the national standards for symptomatic breast care as published by the Health Information & Quality Authority (HIQA).

The most recent data available through the Hospital In-Patient Data Enquiry (HIPE) is in relation to 2007. Cork University Hospital had 113 procedures and the South Infirmary had 234 procedures carried out on women with a principal diagnosis of breast cancer in that year. Information in respect of Cork University Hospital and South Infirmary for 2008 is not yet available from the HIPE system.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 388: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients in Cork diagnosed as having breast cancer by BreastCheck for the first six months of 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29415/08]

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

The Deputy's specific question in relation to the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer by BreastCheck in Cork is the responsibility of the National Cancer Screening Service. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Chief Executive Officer of the Service to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the matters raised.