Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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843. To ask the Minister for Health his views on correspondence from an organisation (details supplied); if he will address the need for a second breast surgeon, a breast radiologist, radiographer support and the infrastructure and support needed within the breast clinic at Letterkenny hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19419/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Breast Cancer Service at Letterkenny University Hospital operates as a satellite centre of University Hospital Galway. The service is run by a single consultant who also undertakes general surgery at the hospital, and it is augmented by locum consultants and by Galway-based Saolta consultants who travel to carry out clinics in Letterkenny to meet needs arising.

At present, efforts are being made to recruit a full-time locum consultant surgeon to deal with current demands on the service. Consideration continues to be given to longer-term measures to meet the future requirements of the service and staffing at consultant and other levels will be among the issues to be considered.

I recently met with cancer support groups from the area and I can confirm that the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP), my Department and the Saolta Group are actively engaged in ensuring that a quality breast cancer service will be available in Letterkenny.

A radiologist post for Letterkenny University Hospital has been advertised, but attempts to fill this position have proved challenging. Radiography numbers in Letterkenny have increased, and the hospital will continue to develop its radiography service to meet the needs of patients. The possibility of further cooperation with health services in Northern Ireland is also being explored, with the hope of building on the level of co-operation achieved in relation to the North West Cancer Centre at Altnagelvin Hospital. This centre opened in November last year and it is providing access to radiotherapy services to people from both jurisdictions in the North West.