Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans for the future of services (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of the consultants there; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28782/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I am indeed aware that not everyone is in agreement with the reorganisation of breast cancer services that is taking place under the National Cancer Control Programme. However, it is important to remember the goals of the Programme - improvements in cancer prevention, detection, treatment and survival through a national service based on evidence and best practice. To achieve this, we need to move from the present fragmented system of care to one which is consistent with international best practice in cancer control. As recommended in the Strategy for Cancer Control in Ireland, the HSE has designated 8 cancer centres, each serving a minimum population of 500,000. University Hospital Galway is the designated centre for Sligo.

Breast cancer diagnostic and surgical services are the first services to be transferred to the designated cancer centres. In this regard, it is important to note that the National Quality Assurance Standards for Symptomatic Breast disease provide that each specialist unit should manage a minimum number of 150 new breast cancer cases per annum. Sligo General Hospital carried out 86 procedures on women with a principal diagnosis of breast cancer in 2008 (79 such procedures in 2007). The roll-out of BreastCheck in Sligo, which commenced in March, will further reduce the numbers of breast cancer patients requiring access to symptomatic breast disease services, as women screened by BreastCheck who require follow-up will be referred to the BreastCheck static unit in Galway.

Accordingly, breast cancer diagnostic and surgical services at Sligo will transfer to UHG within the next couple of months. Work is ongoing in relation to this with the full cooperation of hospital management. Medical oncology will continue to be delivered at Sligo General as will outpatient radiation oncology clinics. Current arrangements to provide supportive or palliative care will not change.

The current volume of breast cancer patients at Sligo has been assessed and can be accommodated in UHG, where the symptomatic breast unit has expanded considerably in recent years and offers a multidisciplinary approach providing breast cancer surgery, specialised procedures such as immediate breast reconstruction, radiotherapy and chemotherapy including neoadjuvant therapy in a single team environment. Triple assessment clinics are available every day and each of the 5 consultant surgeons has weekly clinics Monday to Friday.