Minister for Health Mary Harney will receive a report this evening on the case of a woman who was mistakenly given the all-clear after a test for breast cancer.
A spokeswoman for Ms Harney said she would receive the report from Cork University Hospital by close of business today, but could not say in the minister would issue any statement on it.
Minister for Health Mary Harney
Rebecca O'Malley from Co Tipperary underwent a fine needle biopsy at Midwestern Regional Hospital, Limerick, in March 2005 to test for suspected breast cancer.
The sample was sent to a cytology laboratory in Cork University Hospital and was diagnosed as normal. However, 14 months later, Mrs O'Malley's GP recommended that she have a second biopsy, and the test showed she did have cancer.
Ms Harney said yesterday she would decide whether to initiate an independent investigation into the misdiagnosis after she received the report from the HSE and Cork University Hospital.
Recent analysis undertaken by the Department of Health and Children demonstrates that there is a year-on-year increase in the national volume of cancer-related procedures carried out by hospitals and surgeons across the country between 1997 and 2005
"This trend creates urgency for change," Ms Harney said. "The fragmentation in the delivery of cancer treatment services must be addressed to improve the quality and outcome of cancer care while still assuring relative ease of geographical access."
Meanwhile, new guidelines for the treatment of breast cancer patients in dedicated breast cancer units were announced by Ms Harney today.
The specialist breast cancer centres will each care for a minimum of 150 newly diagnosed patients each year.
Ms Harney said evidence shows that patients with breast cancer have the best chance of survival if they are treated in centres with multi-disciplinary teams of medical professionals working in partnership and treating high numbers of patients.