Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 1

Adjournment Debate. - Cancer Treatment Services.

Mr. O'Shea:

Gabhaim buíochas don Cheann Comhairle as ucht an seans a thabhairt dom an cheist thábhachtach seo a phlé sa Dáil.

A report in The Irish Times of Saturday last indicated that the expert group on the future of radiotherapy services will recommend that the service be provided only in Dublin, Cork and Galway. This leak, like all others, had an objective. One could speculate that it came from Government sources to test the water in regard to public reaction in the south-eastern, western and mid-western regions. The report quotes a spokeswoman for the Minister as saying that the Minister had yet to receive the report. It should be noted that she did not say that he did not know what was contained in the report. She further stated that the Minister expected the report within weeks. The article stated that it is expected that the Minister will act on the recommendations of his expert group.

There can be no doubt that the submission of the expert group report to the Minister has been deliberately stalled. Equally, it is valid to speculate that the completion of the expert group report could be influenced by the intensity of the public reaction to the leak. I call on the Minister for Health and Children to immediately instruct that the completed report of the expert group be submitted to him and that he publish it. Whatever the recommendations, it is imperative that the stalling exercise comes to an end and that the people of Waterford and the south-east region know where they stand. Anger and frustration are caused where there is prolonged stalling of publication and people know they are being treated like idiots.

When I last raised this issue on the Adjournment, I pointed out that due to a lack of radiotherapy facilities at Waterford Regional Hospital some breast cancer patients were opting for mastectomies because they could not get access to such treatment in Waterford. Cancer specialists from both the south-east and mid-west regions have stated that this is the case. It is absolutely unacceptable that in any civilised society women should opt for mastectomies rather than spending long periods away from home. This is only one group among the 50% of cancer patients who require radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy treatment is usually administered for short daily periods over a number of weeks. Treatment can be accessed by travel to and from a centre if it is situated near at hand. If there is a considerable distance involved, patients either have long daily journeys or have to stay near the centre. The latter is cruel and inhumane at a time when patients are at their most vulnerable and need their families and friend around them.

Whatever the recommendations of the expert group report, there is a fundamental need for a regional cancer treatment centre in the south-east. Waterford Regional Hospital provides chemotherapy as well as surgery in the treatment of cancer. Without radiotherapy the treatment options are reduced. Some 75% of cancer patients should receive radiotherapy, but in the south-east only 48% receive it. The expert group report must be published. If it recommends a radiotherapy unit for Waterford Regional Hospital, then our work to press the Government for early delivery will begin. If it does not, then the campaign must employ other ways of reaching an early successful conclusion. Either way, the stalling of the publication of the report of the expert group on the future of radiotherapy services is acting as a road block to progress.

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. Callely):

I thank the Deputy for raising the need for a radiotherapy unit in the Waterford Regional Hospital on the Adjournment and for giving me, as Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, this opportunity to set out the current position in relation to the provision of radiotherapy services nationally.

As the Deputy is aware, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, established the expert review group on radiotherapy services to examine the appropriate future development of radiotherapy services. The group comprises a multidisciplinary team of experts in radiation oncology, surgical oncology, nursing, epidemiology and palliative care. 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 services, 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 place in a radiotherapy facility. I understand that the work of the expert review group on radiotherapy services is nearing completion and will be submitted to the Minister for Health and Children shortly.

Mr. O'Shea:

We have been hearing that for three years.

Mr. Callely:

There is no stalling in this regard.

Mr. O'Shea:

Rubbish.

Mr. Callely:

That is the position as I understand it. Should I discover differently I will be honest and advise the Deputy accordingly.

Mr. O'Shea:

The Minister of State should check it out.

Mr. Callely:

That is the factual position as I understand it.

Mr. Cregan:

The Minister of State has done well.

Mr. Callely:

All health boards, including the South Eastern Health Board, have been afforded the opportunity to meet the group and to make submissions to it. The provision of additional radiotherapy services will be considered in the context of the report of the expert working group.