THE MEDICAL expert charged with delivering the new national cancer care programme has moved to reassure people in Kerry that the transfer of a surgical breast cancer treatment centre from Tralee to Cork will not lead to a decline in quality of service.
National Cancer Control Programme director, Prof Tom Keane, said that the evidence worldwide was that concentrating resources in larger centres leads to better outcomes for people because of the greater skill mix and support services.
Under the National Cancer Control Programme, breast cancer surgery services are to be transferred from Kerry General Hospital in Tralee to Cork University Hospital, which is to become one of two HSE-designated centres in the south for cancer treatment.
Prof Keane pointed out that, out of every 15 women who go for breast cancer screening, only one will actually have the disease, meaning that 14 out of every 15 will have to make only one visit to the breast care clinic.
Prof Keane said that Dr Tom McCormack had provided an excellent surgical service in Kerry General Hospital, where some 70-80 women undergo surgery for breast cancer every year, but better outcomes can be achieved when the service is not dependent on just one surgeon.
“The fact that we’re transferring surgery from Tralee is no criticism of Tom McCormack and staff there, but the evidence is striking that the best way to provide a service is by concentrating resources,” he said.
Prof Keane told the HSE South Regional Forum that Ireland has a high level of inpatient care for breast cancer treatment compared with other countries and it’s hoped that 80 per cent of treatment can be done on a day-patient basis.
Prof Keane explained that breast surgery patients account for just 1 per cent of all hospital discharges from Kerry General and they account for just 3 per cent of all the beds, and transferring the service to CUH would require additional resources there of 1.5 to two beds.
Prof Keane was responding to concerns raised by Kerry members of the HSE South Regional Forum, Cllr Brendan Cronin, Cllr Michael Cahill and Cllr Michael Healy-Rae who pointed out that some 21,000 people had signed a petition opposing the transfer of services to Cork.