Written Answers. - Cancer Treatment Services.
Alan M. Dukes
Question:
19
Mr. Dukes
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
his views on the criticism that there is no public hospital which has medical oncology, radiotherapy and oncology surgery, with the backup of specially trained oncology nurses and support staff, available in the same institution; and his further views on whether Dublin is unique as a European capital city in not having an integrated comprehensive cancer centre involving all the range of disciplines and providing a centralised cancer care concept, whilst also ensuring that adequate services are available in other parts of the country.
[5775/98]
Michael Finucane
Question:
79
Mr. Finucane
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
his views on the criticism that there is no public hospital which has medical oncology, radiotherapy and oncology surgery, with the backup of specially trained oncology nurses and support staff, available in the same institution and that Dublin is unique as a European capital city in not having an integrated comprehensive cancer centre involving all the range of disciplines and providing a centralised cancer care concept, while also ensuring that adequate services are available in other parts of the country.
[5773/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 79 together.
The national cancer strategy, published in November 1996, is aimed at providing an integrated, comprehensive set of cancer treatment services comprising surgery, oncology and radiotherapy. The strategy was developed and agreed following an extensive process of consultation, involving experts and organisations working in the fields of cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care.
The strategy includes a plan for reorganising cancer treatment services around three supra-regional centres, in which all of the major treatments for cancer will be available. Linked to the supra-regional centres will be a set of regional services in designated hospitals, which will each provide a multi-disciplinary cancer service for patients within its area. Patients requiring more specialised services, including radiotherapy, will be referred to the appropriate supra-regional service.
The focus of the strategy is to provide comprehensive services in a designated set of high-quality centres. The centralisation of all cancer treatment services in any one particular institution would be expensive and cumbersome, and would not necessarily be to the benefit of patients, particularly in terms of access to services. Instead the strategy promotes close co-operation and co-ordination of services between hospitals and the development of regional self-sufficiency in appropriate specialties. I believe that the cancer strategy adopts the best practical approach in this regard. It emphasises the development of best practice and the promotion of agreement at local level as to which hospital is best placed to provide each type of cancer treatment.
An action plan to implement the strategy was announced in March 1997. It included details of a national cancer forum to advise on implementation of the strategy and it announced the appointment of regional directors of cancer services for each area. The regional directors are making considerable progress already, thanks to their own commitment and the hard work of many others in the field of cancer prevention and treatment. The directors are currently drawing up regional plans for the development of services in their area, which are being funded by my Department.
I am committed to implementing the strategy as set out in the action plan. This year I provided £7.7 million for implementing the strategy, which is in addition to the £6 million provided for this purpose in 1997. In addition to this investment, £1 million was allocated in 1997 and again this year for the development of a national breast screening programme. The screening process is due to commence in September of this year.
A pilot programme of cervical screening is also in preparation in the Mid-Western Health Board area. I allocated £300,000 to this important project this year.
I have also provided the necessary funding for providing new consultant-based services throughout the country in oncology, haematology, histopathology and palliative care. This will be implemented on a phased basis over the next few years and will ensure regional self-sufficiency to the greatest possible extent consistent with the provision of high quality services.
