Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason cancer services at Sligo General Hospital have not yet been restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13458/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Sligo General provides a significant range of cancer services. These include surgery for non-melanoma skin cancer and colorectal cancer, and chemotherapy services. Sligo has also been selected as one of the 15 candidate colonoscopy centres for the colorectal cancer screening programme to be launched next year.

Chemotherapy is still provided to all cancer patients in Sligo. I am pleased to confirm that recruitment of a second permanent medical oncologist is in train. For breast cancer patients specifically, there is a specialist breast nurse in place and detailed clinical pathways have been worked out for Sligo patients presenting with post-operative infection or other conditions, so as to minimise the need to travel to Galway.

Breast cancer diagnosis and breast surgery are the only cancer services to have ceased at Sligo General. Since November 2009, women in the Sligo area are provided with breast cancer diagnosis and surgery at Galway. As one of the two designated centres for the HSE West region, Galway has a critical mass of expertise, sufficient throughput of cases and relevant multi-disciplinary specialist skills in cancer services which, as outlined by international evidence, achieve the best outcomes for patients. It is important to note that some 96% of women who attend the Galway unit do not have cancer, and only one visit is normally necessary. For the small number diagnosed with breast cancer, some 85% will require radiotherapy as well as surgery, which would involve treatment in Galway in any event. A survey that was undertaken at Galway last year showed that of those resident in Sligo, 95% described the Galway service as either good or excellent.

I am continuing to explore with the National Cancer Control Programme how services can best be organised for the benefit of patients having regard to my commitment to putting quality at the heart of our healthcare system and to ensuring that quality and optimal care are paramount in decisions about the provision of services throughout the health system. I have recently met with Dr Susan O'Reilly, Director of the National Cancer Control Programme, and I will continue our discussions in this regard. My key concern remains the achievement of the best possible outcomes for patients generally and women in particular.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Health and Children his plans to implement any significant changes in hospital funding methodologies during 2011. [13420/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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This Government is embarking on a major programme of reform for the health system, the ultimate objective of which is to ensure equal access to healthcare based on need, not income. This objective will be achieved through a single-tier health service supported by universal health insurance.

One of the key elements of the reform programme is financial reform of the acute hospital sector. We have committed to introducing a "Money Follows the Patient" funding system for hospitals, which is more efficient than the current system of block grant allocations. Significant groundwork and careful planning is required in order to prepare the sector for "Money Follows the Patient". However, there are a number of initiatives already underway in 2011 which will help underpin the development of a future "Money Follows the Patient" funding system. These include a project to develop a patient level costing process which involves tracing resources actually used by individual patients from the time of entry and admission to hospital until time of discharge. The HSE is also looking at alternative funding mechanisms for selected elective orthopaedic procedures.

The health reform process is a comprehensive and complex task that requires careful planning and sequencing. The introduction of "Money Follows the Patient" will have to be implemented in a phased manner which takes account of other elements of the reform programme. Of particular significance in this regard are the creation of a Special Delivery Unit to deal with waiting times, and the establishment of HSE hospitals as independent not for profit trusts.