Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will reply to correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31041/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The correspondence referred to by the Deputy has been sent to my office and I have replied to it yesterday. Firstly, I wish to extend my sympathies to this lady's family. I agree that the management of this case was unacceptable. The Hospital, Galway University Hospital (GUH) has apologised for the distress that was caused to the patient and her family.

GUH is a designated cancer centre and work continues to ensure that adequate capacity is available to manage patients who are referred to the hospital by other consultants for treatment. A new oncology assessment unit will open in the near future in GUH. This will provide direct access for cancer patients and so will provide appropriate, timely treatment for cancer patients who are referred by other consultants to the hospital. The Clinical Director is also drawing up a Memorandum of Understanding with private hospitals to ensure that the transfer of patients from those facilities to GUH is dealt with in an appropriate manner, similar to the arrangements in place when patients transfer from one public hospital to another.