There are no “immediate plans” to restore breast cancer services to Sligo General Hospital but the matter remains “under review”, Minister for Health James Reilly said today.
Speaking after meeting a cross-party delegation of Oireachtas members from the Sligo area, Dr Reilly said he was making the comments “for the sake of clarity”.
Symptomatic breast cancer services at the hospital were transferred to University College Hospital Galway (UCHG) in August 2009 as part of the National Cancer Control Programme.
Dr Reilly said today he was very pleased to announce that the hospital would be a screening centre for colon cancer with full colonoscopy services.
“I can confirm that two radiographers will be appointed later this year which will allow for the resumption of mammography at the hospital.”
He said a second permanent oncologist would also be appointed in order to further strengthen cancer services at Sligo General.
A report approved by the HSE has said the annual cost of re-opening the breast cancer unit would be more than €2.5 million a year.
The report, unveiled by Minister of State John Perry last Friday also revealed that since the unit closed, a “significant percentage” of patients in the hospital’s catchment area had opted to have surgery in Dublin rather than Galway.
The document - commissioned by SGH management on the request of Mr Perry - said patients were opting to have breast investigations and surgery at different centres in Dublin and were then returning for oncology services in Sligo “resulting in a fragmented service”.
Some patients were also using the Letterkenny centre.
Separately, Mr Perry was involved in a row earlier this month when he hung up on a live radio interview after he was questioned about his pre-election promise to restore the breast cancer services when in government.