This article is from page 16 of the 2007-08-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
THE regional director of cancer serv- ices in the west, Professor Rajnish K Gumpta, has said that the progress in developing the network of cancer cen- tres “is hampered by the lack of re- sources and the employment ceiling”. As a result, he believes that patients and their GPs are seeking access to tests for breast cancer through routes other than the Specialist Breast Unit and a multi-disciplinary team.
Last month, the HSE announced that the mammography unit at Ennis Gen- eral Hospital would remain closed as it had decided to concentrate all mam- mography services for the mid-west at the Regional Specialist Breast Unit in the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick, claiming more than 1,000 mammograms a year were necessary for the maintenance of the required level of professional skills in read- ing the x-rays. Professor Gumpta now says these units are not being properly resourced.
He was speaking after a second woman from the mid-west was mis- takenly given the all-clear for breast cancer. The case of this Tipperary woman is “Separate to the circum- stances and investigation” involving Killaloe woman Rebecca O’ Malley, who was also mistakenly cleared of breast cancer.
She went through a mastectomy and removal of glands and referred to Professor Gumpta in April and is currently undergoing intensive chemotherapy.
“Although I accept…that there was
a diagnostic error in the Pathology Laboratory at University Hospital Galway, this lady should have been referred to aregional specialist breast unit and a multi-displinary team at her original presentation in 2005,” said Prof Gumpta.
“Personally I am extremely disap- pointed, sad, angry and concerned that this has happened, was allowed to happen and I/we did not stop this from happening,’ he said. “I have raised concerns about the treatment of patients with cancer outside spe-
cialist units and regional hospitals for at least the last three years.”
Minister for Health, Mary Harney has apologised to the lady and an in- dependent review has been commis- sioned into pathology services at the hospital, which is being conducted, by the Health Information and Qual- ity Authority.