Thirteen regional hospitals were today asked to stop providing breast cancer treatment with immediate effect as eight new specialist cancer treatment centres were unveiled by the Minister for Health.
Under the National Cancer Control Programme, eight specialist cancer centres will be located in each of the four HSE areas to provide an integrated treatment service for all forms of cancer including diagnostic, surgical, medical and radiation oncology services.
The Department of Health has said it is following successful international cancer care models in its decision to modify cancer care in Ireland and each specialist centre will now serve a population of at least 500,000 people.
Hospitals with too few breast cancer cases presenting for treatment were formally asked to shut down their service provision, as patient care is to be phased into the new system.
About 2,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in Ireland each year and patients at the following hospitals will be affected by the decision, although the HSE assures the transition will be phased in and intermediary services will be provided.
- Naas General Hospital
- Tullamore General Hospital
- St Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown
- Mallow General Hospital
- Louth County Hospital
- Cavan General Hospital
- Our Lady's Hospital, Navan
- Mid Western Regional Hospital, Nenagh
- Ennis General Hospital
- St Michael's Hospital, Dun Laoghaire
- Roscommon County Hospital
- Portiuncula Hospital
- Mercy University Hospital, Cork
Announcing the decision today, chief executive of the HSE Prof Brendan Drumm said: "This integrated approach reflects the strategy behind the HSE's Transformation Programme which is to make the journey in, through, and out of the health care system, as easy and seamless as possible yet delivers the best care possible".
"This is the best possible foundation upon which we can build a nationally uniform and fully integrated cancer control service to the highest international standard for everyone in the country," he added.
However, Fine Gael health spokesman Dr James Reilly said the announcement of the National Cancer Control Programme was "undermined by the lack of an implementation plan with a clear timeline".
The Health Minister did not make it clear how this plan would benefit patients, Dr Reilly said and the announcement did not explain how or when the cancer centres would be operational or how much the plan would cost.
"I sincerely hope that the appointment of Professor Tom Keane and his heading up of the plan will prove to be positive but it is hard not be sceptical in light of the failures, broken promises and layers of bureaucracy which have been the hallmarks of the health service under this Government," Dr Reilly added.
The new specialist centres will be located at:
- Beaumont Hospital, Dublin
- Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin
- St James Hospital, Dublin
- St Vincents University Hospital, Dublin
- Cork University Hospital
- Waterford Regional Hospital
- University College Hospital, Galway (with some linkage to Letterkenny, Donegal)
- Limerick Regional Hospital