The Minister for Health Mary Harney was expected to face tough questions about breast cancer services in Cork in the Dáil last night (Wednesday, June 18).

Fine Gael TD Deirdre Clune has raised serious concerns about the capacity of the Cork University Hospital (CUH) to deal with an increase in breast cancer cases if Breast Cancer Services are transferred there from the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH) next year.

Under the Government's Cancer Care Strategy it is proposed to establish a specialist centre for the Southern region in the CUH. This would involve transfer of breast cancer services from the SIVUH. Deputy Clune said that she planned to raise the issue with the Minister in the Dáíl last night to clarify exactly where at the CUH campus are the buildings, surgical theatre spaces and staff necessary to provide a better service?

"The quality of breast cancer services at the SIVUH are second to none, in 2007 the SIVUH diagnosed 210 breast cancer cases compared to 141 at the CUH. If these services are to be transferred there has to be public confidence that the current standard of services will be maintained at the very least. Such confidence does not currently exist either among the public or among the cancer specialists based at the SIVUH," she said.

Deputy Clune stressed that until local breast cancer specialists and the women of Cork can be assured that the transfer of breast cancer services to the CUH will result in a better rather than a worse service this transfer should not take place. "Breast cancer services should remain at the SIVUH until the Minister can tell us that the CUH is in a position to provide the facilities necessary for an improved service," she said.

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