Fine Gael Cork TD Deirdre Clune has called on Prof. Tom Keane, the Interim Director of the National Cancer Control Programme, to review plans to transfer breast cancer services from the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH) to the Cork University Hospital (CUH) over the next few months.

The timetable for the transfer of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment services from the South Infirmary/Victoria Hospital to the CUH needs to be reviewed by Prof. Tom Keane. The process of consultation has still not been finalised and it would be unprofessional to transfer the services before these consultations were complete.

Doubts remain that the CUH will be capable of accommodating these breast cancer services on such a rushed timetable. Until such time as the CUH has the facilities to cope with the increased influx of patients and the commitment of the staff to work in the new location the transfer should be postponed.

I see no reason why the CUH and the SIVUH could not be allowed work closely together as a Centre of Excellence until such time as an amalgamation of the two services could be completed without any risk to the quality of the service or the confidence of those who use it.

Rushing the transfer of cancer services to remain on timetable rather than prioritising the establishment of a service that will operate at the highest standard from day one is no way to build confidence in the National Cancer Strategy.