SENATOR MARY HENRY MD,
Sir, - Professor Niall O'Higgins is rightly critical of the delay in establishing the breast cancer specialist units. Even more depressing than the fact that so few of the 13 units are up and running after two years was Minister Micheál Martin's response.
Of course there are problems in some centres with politicians, doctors and the general public but this could go on and on if the Minister does not take ownership of this very good scheme. The Government accepted the report and agreed to implement it but there needs to be leadership from the Minister regarding pushing the programme forward.
Studies and reports are useless if they are not implemented. It is clearly time to knock heads together if our high premature mortality rate amongst women from breast cancer is to be reduced. - Yours etc.,
SENATOR MARY HENRY MD,
Seanad Éireann.