Health Correspondent THE Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, is to review the decision taken by the Midland Health Board to spread cancer services throughout three hospitals in the region. The National Cancer Strategy had recommended the centring of services in Tullamore.
The Midland Health Board voted overwhelmingly last Thursday to spread the services among the three hospitals, in Portlaoise, Mullingar and Tullamore. An amendment to a regional report on cancer services in the midlands was passed calling for new consultant posts and back-up services to be distributed throughout the region.
Mr Cowen told The Irish Times he would have to "assess the implications of that resolution and the recommendations". It was unfortunate, he said, that the board members, if they had concerns, "did not address them with the authors in the first instance and see the rationale and thinking behind them".
Asked if he believed the board had made an incorrect decision, Mr Cowen said he was not going to pre-empt anything before he had taken the necessary advice. "I am not going to be prescriptive at this stage. They have passed a resolution making certain recommendations. I have to see if that is consistent with the national cancer strategy."
The Minister said all health boards implement ministerial policy. "The policy adopted in relation to regional cancer strategies will be decided upon taking into account the health board's present position. Consultation will now take place." Health boards, he said, were in a position to consider policies "which are consistent with national policies".
Two reports were considered by health board members on Thursday, The Plan for the Development of Cancer Services, drawn up by Prof Donal Hollywood, which was commissioned following the publication of the national strategy, and a related report on pathology services in the region.
Mr Cowen, who is from Tullamore, said the health board had considered the two reports which had been drawn up by expert advisers. "In considering those they passed a resolution making certain changes which they would like to see. In assessing the implications I must see what way we can ensure we have a cancer strategy there consistent with the National Cancer Strategy," he said.
The issue has caused consternation in the midland region. A petition with over 26,000 signatures was presented to the health board chairman, Mr Martin Rohan, before last week's health board meeting. It had been drawn up in protest at what locals saw as a plan to downgrade cancer services in Portlaoise General Hospital.
An alliance between health board members from Portlaoise and Tullamore resulted in the adoption of the amendment proposing that Portlaoise be designated the "lead centre" for oncology in the midlands, where it is "already most developed".