The Minister for Health, David Anderson MHK has moved to reassure breast cancer patients and the wider public over the future of breast cancer care on the Island. Since the retirement of Mr Malcolm Clague, a General Surgeon, who also provided the Consultant element of on-Island breast care, the Department of Health has employed on a temporary basis, Miss Ishrak Hamo, a Consultant Breast Surgeon, to cover Mr Clague’s breast care workload. Miss Hamo’s locum status has continued whilst the Department of Health has drawn up and carefully considered plans for the future of Breast Care services on the Island. Approval has now been given for a broad three year plan for Breast Care services in the Isle of Man, but taking into account other clinical demands, such as the pressure upon Noble’s Hospital’s general surgeons. Noble’s Hospital currently has three general surgeons, whom between them must cover emergency surgical care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This is considered onerous and does not represent best practice, as highlighted by the Royal College of Surgeons and the British Medical Association. A fourth General Surgeon to help cover emergency care and to meet the increasing demand for surgery on the Island, is therefore required. The Department is mindful that there is a continuing demand for additional resources in many areas of health care, but that it must carefully balance the various clinical needs of the community. As a result of the desire to take forward a three year plan for Breast Care in the Isle of Man whilst also addressing the requirement to increase the number of general surgeons at Noble’s Hospital, the Department has taken the decision to advertise for an additional General Surgeon, who must have a primary specialist interest in breast surgery. Minister for Health, David Anderson MHK, said: “I would like to reassure the public of the Isle of Man that this new surgeon will be a highly skilled breast surgeon, who will take lead responsibility for the Island’s breast cancer surgery whilst also being able to contribute to the general surgery on-call rota. This will enable the Department to meet the Royal College of Surgeons and the British Medical Association’s recommendations that we have four instead of the current three highly skilled surgeons to undertake general surgery work at Noble’s Hospital. “I have recently met with the Isle of Man Council of Cancer Charities to discuss the Department’s proposals and our three year plan for Breast Care. I believe that both Breakthrough Breast Cancer and Isle of Man Breast Care were reassured by the discussions that took place. Both charities, who do truly exceptional work for our community, have kindly agreed to become more involved in communicating our plans to the community as well as being involved in the recruitment and interviewing process, which I think is a very positive development. “In relation to the increase in the number of cases of breast cancer on the Isle of Man, I can appreciate people’s concerns here. As we introduced breast screening in February 2008, it was always our expectation to witness an increase in the number of cases. The programme is specifically for the purpose of early detection. It is also common to see a spike in cases when screening commences within a community, as a number of slow growing tumours are usually identified. The numbers then level out over time. “I am of course very mindful of the sensitivity concerning cancer treatment, but I would like to reassure those concerned that I am absolutely confident that the proposed post, which will ensure that the new general surgeon has a primary specialist interest in breast surgery, will enable the Department of Health to continue to provide the Island’s breast cancer patients with the very highest standards of care.” - ENDS -