Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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398. To ask the Minister for Health the cross-Border options that have been examined to enable the appointment of a second breast cancer surgeon at Letterkenny General Hospital, County Donegal, to ensure the long-term sustainability of the service. [7666/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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A backlog of referrals to the Symptomatic Breast Service at Letterkenny General Hospital is being addressed at present through engaging a locum consultant who is providing three days of clinics and through the consultant breast surgeon who is based in Letterkenny General Hospital arranging to see additional patients by adding extra appointments at existing clinics and by arranging a number of additional clinics. Steps are also being taken by the Saolta University Health Care Group to recruit a General Practitioner, who will work with the consultant breast surgeon, and to develop the role of Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Letterkenny over a period of time.

While we are working with the Health Services in Northern Ireland in regard to the provision of radiotherapy services for people from the North West, at this point cross border options have not been pursued in relation to breast cancer services in Letterkenny General Hospital.