Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 234: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the transfer of the symptomatic breast cancer unit from South Infirmary-Victoria University Hospital to Cork University Hospital will occur; the funds being allocated to facilitate this transfer; her views on whether such funds would be better directed towards the cervical cancer vaccination programme in view of the fact that an established centre of excellence in breast cancer treatment exists at South Infirmary-Victoria University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5882/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Under the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP), there are four managed cancer control networks and eight cancer centres, into which services are being transferred progressively. In the HSE South, the designated cancer centres are Cork University Hospital, and Waterford Regional Hospital. Symptomatic breast disease services are the first to be transferred to the eight centres.

The transfer of symptomatic breast disease services from South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital to Cork University Hospital Cancer Centre (CUHCC) is underway and will be completed as quickly as possible. The transfer of breast services is being undertaken in conjunction with the development of other cancer services in CUHCC. The NCCP has been working with both senior general management and clinical staff to ensure that appropriate facilities are in place for this purpose. The NCCP has approved a €5m capital grant to develop diagnostic facilities in CUH that will incorporate comprehensive outpatient and treatment facilities, radiology and support services, for symptomatic breast care and also for rapid access diagnostic clinics for lung and prostate cancers. Because the capital development is complex and includes services other than breast cancer the timeframe for the development has extended to Autumn 2009. The Director of the NCCP has always emphasised that services will not move until CUHCC has the facilities and resources to manage the transferring patients safely and in accordance with the National Quality Assurance Standards for Symptomatic Breast Disease Services.

I want to emphasise that the decision to reorganise services is about achieving optimum outcomes. In order to achieve the very best outcomes we need to concentrate the totality of cancer work in just eight centres. That necessarily means that some centres which are well organised and have a significant case load will nonetheless need to transfer that work to larger centres at other locations.

In relation to cervical cancer, all of the clinical advice available to me indicates that the national roll-out of a cervical screening programme should be my first priority. The National Cervical Screening Programme, CervicalCheck, is being implemented with effect from September of last year. The full year cost of this programme is in excess of €40m. I am fully committed to keeping the introduction of a HPV vaccination programme under active review.