Deirdre Clune TD has welcomed the Interim Director of the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) Prof Tom Keane’s willingness to address patients concerns regarding the transfer of breast cancer services from the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH) to the Cork University Hospital (CUH) later this year. The Cork TD has outlined that despite Prof’s Keane’s assurances a number of pressing concerns have not been sufficiently addressed to ease the concerns that continue to exist.

Prof Tom Keane’s willingness to provide the Public Accounts Committee answers that addresses concerns raised about the impact the proposed transfer of Breast Cancer Services from the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH) to the Cork University Hospital (CUH) will have on patient care is a welcome development. The fact Prof Keane has recognised that the concerns expressed are genuine and deserve a detailed response shows an engagement with patients often lacking under this Government’s health policy.

Despite Prof. Keane’s assurances that the new service will operate to the highest levels and guarantee patients no diminution in the level of care, certain concerns remain about the new service.

For women living in Cork and Kerry to have full confidence in this new service it is important that the central concerns are addressed. People need to know that the dedicated specialist beds are ring fenced. Women using the service need to be assured that it will be free of delays and long waiting times. Patients and staff need to be guaranteed the current high level of service available in the SIVUH will be matched if not improved upon.

Prof. Keane’s suggested aftercare service will rely heavily on local General Practitioners providing this service to patients. It is vital for patient confidence in the service that local GP’s are provided with adequate training and that a high level of throughput can be guaranteed to ensure this system works well.

Public confidence is the key to the transfer of Breast Cancer services to the CUH being successful or not. Prof. Keane’s answers to concerns raised by patient groups hopefully shows that this has been recognised at the highest level but more needs to be done in the weeks and months that remain before the planned transfer in the autumn