Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 6

Written Answers. - Cancer Treatment Services.

Charles Flanagan

Question:

252 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Health and Children if the regional cancer plan adopted by the Midland Health Board at its meeting of 16 April 1998 and subsequently referred to the National Cancer Forum was specifically discussed at a meeting of the forum; and if the decision to reject the plan was unanimous. [6852/99]

Charles Flanagan

Question:

253 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Health and Children if, in relation to the regional cancer plan adopted by the Midland Health Board at its meeting of 16 April 1998 and referred by him to the National Cancer Forum, the forum discussed, decided and recommended that intravenous chemotherapy should not be given to cancer patients attending Portlaoise general hospital; if so, when this decision was taken; and if the decision was unanimous. [6853/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 253 together.

The proposals adopted by the Midland Health Board on 17 April 1998 were considered in detail at a meeting of the National Cancer Forum on 20 May 1998. The forum was of the unanimous view that they should not be implemented because they would lead to a highly undesirable fragmen tation of services with consequent implications for the quality of care that could be offered to patients.

The forum unanimously recommended approval of the plan for the development of cancer services, March 1998, known as the Hollywood report and this was adopted by the Midland Health Board on 17 September 1998. To date I have provided £650,000 to commence its implementation. The principles of the cancer plan, as unanimously supported by the National Cancer Forum, envisages the provision of intravenous chemotherapy at Tullamore general hospital and the use of oral chemotherapy at both Portlaoise and Longford and Westmeath general hospitals.