Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has received a copy of the Health Information and Quality Authority report on the eight designated cancer centres, part of which, in relation to Waterford Regional Hospital, was the subject of media reports recently; if and when the report will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18989/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) initiated a quality review of symptomatic breast cancer services in 2008. The overall objective of the review was to assess the performance of the designated cancer centres against the National Quality Standards for Symptomatic Breast Disease Services and assist in devising an implementation plan for incremental progress to becoming specialist cancer centres by the end of 2009.

There are a number of phases in the process of meeting the entire range of standards involved. The first was a self-assessment completed and submitted by each individual hospital in Spring, 2008. The second phase involved an independent validation by HIQA, in October 2008, of the Spring self-assessment process. In January 2009, HIQA issued individual interim reports to each of the designated centres. These were based on data from the self-assessments carried out in Spring, 2008 and were not an inspection of the status of the centres in October, 2008. The interim reports were copied to the CEO of the HSE, the Secretary General of my Department and to the Interim Director of the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) in January, 2009.

The interim reports provide the centres with details of the standards that are being met and of where gaps exist. Significant progress has been made by all of the designated cancer centres in addressing the gaps in systems and services. There is ongoing liaison also between the NCCP and HIQA about compliance with the standards.

The individual hospitals have prepared implementation plans in conjunction with the NCCP, which are now being implemented and monitored by the NCCP. A further inspection and assessment by HIQA is planned for the end of 2009, and these reports will be published.