Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 4

Written Answers - Cancer Strategy.

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

83 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the benefits, if any, to the north-western region of his new initiatives on cancer which he announced on Tuesday, 5 November 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21012/96]

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

84 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health whether areas north of the Galway and Dublin regions will benefit from any new initiatives in relation to cancer in view of the distances currently involved in attending clinics/appointments in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21013/96]

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

86 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the cross-Border initiatives, if any, currently being undertaken in relation to cancer treatment and cancer research; and if he will make a statement on the current availability of funding in respect of such ventures. [21017/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 84 and 86 together.

The series of cancer initiatives which I announced last week are aimed at bringing about important improvements to services relating to cancer throughout the country. The National Cancer Strategy contains plans for reorganising cancer treatment services, targeting resources to screening programmes of proven value and developing specialist palliative care. All areas of the country, including the north-west region, will benefit over the coming years from the plans that I have announced.

The services will concentrate on the needs of patients, with particular regard to the most sensitive and responsive arrangements for diagnosis and treatment of cancer. My plans include the development of specialist oncology services outside the Dublin area so that patients should not have to travel the lengthy distances experienced in some cases at present. I also intend to develop specialist palliative care services on a phased basis and to strengthen haematology and histopathology services.

I announced the establishment of a targeted national programme of screening for cervical cancer and gave details of progress made on the development of a targeted national programme of screening for breast cancer. In addition I published a set of guidelines drawn up by experts on the safe administration of chemotherapy.

All these steps are aimed at substantially improving our current system of preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer. I am confident that they will represent a considerable advance in the coming years and that the north-west will be among the regions to benefit from these initiatives.

In relation to the question of cross Border initiatives for cancer treatment or research, this possibility is explicitly identified in the strategy document in relation to radiology services. The topic has been discussed in an initial manner at meetings with my colleagues from Northern Ireland and it is an area I intend to pursue further.