Written Answers. - Cancer Treatment Services.
Charles Flanagan
Question:
246
Mr. Flanagan
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the number of regional plans submitted to his Department for approval referred to the National Cancer Forum for further scrutiny in relation to the national cancer strategy and the role of the National Cancer Forum; the number of plans discussed at the forum; the number before the forum; and the service plans, if any, to be referred to the forum.
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The terms of reference of the National Cancer Forum are as follows: To advise the Minister on:
— progress in the implementation of the National Cancer Strategy;
— the co-ordination of cancer services at supra-regional and national level;
— best practice in cancer prevention, treatment and care;
— the development and implementation of protocols for the treatment and care of cancer patients;
— the evaluation of the effectiveness and quality of cancer services;
— the co-ordination of research into cancer, in conjunction with the Health Research Board.
To carry out its above role, the forum may
— liaise with the Regional Directors for Cancer Services and
— liaise with the Steering Committee on the National Breast Cancer Screening Programme and the Advisory Group on the Cervical Screening Programme.
— Report annually to the Minister for Health on the state of cancer services in the country as a whole and on the implementation of the National Cancer Strategy.
I referred one regional cancer plan, that relating to the Midland Health Board area, to the National Cancer Forum for its expert advice in relation to the organisation of cancer treatment services. In general, the processing of regional cancer plans is a matter for the relevant health board and it is not necessary for the forum to advise me individually on each one of them. The forum is fully aware of the proposals relating to the cancer plans prepared by each region, and is of course free to offer me any advice on matters relating to these plans as it sees fit.
Since the proposals prepared in respect of the Midland Health Board region were the subject of particular disagreement at local level, and since there were questions about whether some of the alternative proposals were in line with the criteria set down for cancer services under the National Cancer Strategy, I considered it appropriate to refer them for expert advice to the National Cancer Forum. In the case of other regions, no such issues arose and it was not necessary for me to refer them formally to the forum for their specific advice. No service plans have been referred to the National Cancer Forum to date.
