Olivia Mitchell
Question:1 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children when radiotherapy services adequate to meet the needs of the population will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6827/03]
Ceisteanna – Questions. Priority Questions. - Cancer Treatment Services.
As the Deputy is aware, I established the expert review group on radiation oncology services to examine the appropriate future development of radiotherapy services. The group has conducted a national assessment of needs for radiotherapy services having regard to the demography and epidemiology of cancer and the gaps in current service provision.
The group's report will address the following key issues: access to radiotherapy service – in terms of information, financial access and organisational components of access – the need to provide a high quality, evidence based service; the need to take account of current and new developments in health technology; the requirements of the system in terms of human resources; international norms in relation to service provision, planning and staffing and the organisational development of the services in terms of structures and processes which need to be in place in a radiotherapy facility.
Since 1997, there has been an unprecedented level of investment in cancer services. Since the implementation of the national cancer strategy, a cumulative figure of €400 million has been invested in the development of cancer services. This investment has enabled the funding of 80 additional consultant posts, together with support staff in key areas such as medical oncology, radiology, palliative care, histopathology and haematology throughout the country. The benefit of this investment is reflected in the significant increase in activity which has occurred – for example, the number of new patients receiving radiotherapy treatment has increased from 2,402 in 1994 to 3,809 in 2000. This means that an additional 1,407 patients are accessing these services, representing an increase of 58% nationally.
I understand that the work of the expert review group on radiation oncology services is at the final editing stage and will be submitted to me shortly. All health boards have been afforded the opportunity to meet and make submissions to the group. The provision of additional radiotherapy services will be considered in the context of the report of the expert working group. Following consideration of the report, I will submit proposals for consideration by the Government.
No matter how specifically I phrase questions, I always get the same history lesson in response, without ever getting a specific answer. I asked the Minister whether he is satisfied that the capacity of the service will be sufficient to meet the needs of the population. There is no doubt that the review group will eventually report. All the stories one hears indicate that the report is already with the Minister and has been before the Cabinet.
That is not the case.
It may not be the case, but it is the most leaked report of all time. Given the sensitivities regarding what is contained in the report, I understand why the Minister is not anxious to publish it. We have services in Dublin and Cork and I hope they will be available in Galway by 2005. Given that the decision to provide those services in Galway was made in 1997 or earlier, it is clear it takes nine years to bring a facility to fruition so it is essential the Minister knows now that he will have sufficient capacity in 2005, otherwise he needs to plan further investments. In that context, why have sources close to the Minister ruled out of hand the possibility of the private provision of such a service, when the Minister is not yet certain whether he will have sufficient capacity within the three locations?
I have not ruled anything out yet.
The Minister's sources are not close to him after all.
I do not know which services the Deputy refers to.
The sources quoted.
Various groups have come forward with proposals and the basic answer I have given them is that I am awaiting presentation and publication of the report of the expert group before making any decisions on the provision of radiotherapy facilities. The issues relate to patient throughput, the population catchment area that any centre should deal with and the multidisciplinary nature of the human resources required for a radiotherapy centre – from radiation oncologists to physicists to specialist nursing. Many of those specialities are in scarce supply throughout the world so it is important that whatever configuration we come up with maximises the human resource inputs as well as the technology inputs and that we get the best value for money and best quality service for patients.
The issue for local communities and the country will be whether we want world class, high quality services which cannot be located everywhere or something that falls short of that and which can be located all over the country. The expert group is grappling with these issues.
I accept we do not have sufficient access or services in the radiotherapy field, which is why I set up the expert group, but it is important that we get the proper model so we can begin to allocate resources against that model.
I accept what the Minister says and that it is precisely because there is a long lead-in time and because it is a hugely complex area that he must know well in advance what are his needs.
The time for this question has concluded.
I will only take a moment. As well as the capacity there is geographic—
Sorry, Deputy, the six minutes for the question have concluded. The Chair has no discretion in this matter.
—accommodation and transport. If the absence of those is preventing people using the service—
I agree with the Deputy in regard to providing a package of provision in terms of accommodation and so on. In the interim period, we have not been idle. There has been significant investment in St. Luke's and the Cork radiotherapy centre. The Galway centre was committed to by my predecessor, Deputy Cowen, in 1998 and the building is in tandem with the overall building of the university hospital in Galway, which is nearing completion.