Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2004
43 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Health and Children the actions he has taken following the publication of Patterns of Care and Survival from Cancer in Ireland 1994-1998 by the national cancer registry 2004 which provided strong evidence that cancer treatment and survival can depend on where the person lives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18416/04]
View answer84 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the recent report from the national cancer registry which shows that cancer treatment and survival rates depend on the region a person lives in; the steps he is taking to ensure that there is a consistent level of treatment all over the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18369/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 84 together.
The national cancer registry report, Patterns of Care and Survival from Cancer in Ireland 1994-1998 was researched and published at the request of the national cancer forum as part of the development of the new national cancer strategy. The report examined four cancers, breast, colorectal, lung and prostate in respect of patients diagnosed between 1994 and 1998. For two of the four cancers, breast and colorectal, there were significant differentials between the Eastern Regional Health Authority and other areas of the country in cancer survival. The outcome for lung and prostate cancer did not vary significantly.
At my request, the chief medical officer of my Department has referred the report to the chief executive officers and directors of public health in each health board-ERHA area to assess the findings contained in the report and the implications for the delivery of current services. I have also asked the national cancer forum, to assess the implications of the study and advise on its findings in the context of the new cancer strategy being developed. The findings contained in the report will provide an essential baseline for further research which is to be conducted by the national cancer registry.
The true measure of success of a targeted strategy such as the cancer strategy is a reduction in mortality. The key goal of the 1996 national cancer strategy was to achieve a 15% decrease in mortality in cancer in the under-65 age group in the ten-year period from 1994. An independent evaluation of the 1996 strategy carried out by Deloitte & Touche management consultants and published late last year shows that this objective was achieved in 2001, three years ahead of target.
The report covers the period 1994 to 1998 and since then significant developments in cancer services have taken place. The overall additional cumulative funding in cancer services in this country since 1997 is in excess of €550 million, including an additional €15 million revenue which I allocated this year. An additional 92 consultant posts in key areas of cancer treatment and 245 clinical nurse specialists across all health board areas have been funded. There has also been approximately €95 million in capital funding allocated specifically for the development of cancer related initiatives. These include an investment of €60 million in radiation oncology, and €11.9 million in BreastCheck.
The investment and appointments in cancer services have resulted in substantial increases in activity levels across the three modalities of care of radiation oncology, medical oncology and surgical oncology. For example, since 1996 the annual number of discharges of patients receiving chemotherapy has more than doubled, from 22,000 in 1996 to more than 50,000 in 2002. Similarly, for radiotherapy the increase in discharges reported at Cork University Hospital increased from fewer than 7,000 cases in 1996 to nearly 15,000 in 2002. There has been a 36% increase nationally in surgical procedures for breast cancer, with an additional 500 procedures performed in 2002 compared to 1997.
Last year I announced the extension of the BreastCheck programme to counties Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford and also the national roll-out to the southern and western counties. Screening commenced in Wexford in March of this year.
The report, The Development of Radiation Oncology Services in Ireland, provides the basis of Government policy in relation to the development and organisation of radiation oncology services. This report, which was developed by an expert working group under the chairmanship of Professor Donal Hollywood, has received considerable international endorsement. The first phase of this programme will be the development of a network of large clinical centres in Dublin Cork and Galway which will permit a rapid increase in patient access and also form a backbone for future service expansion. Already, substantial progress is being made in implementing the report's recommendations. In 2004, an additional €3.5 million is being used to develop the services at the supra regional centres at University College Hospital Galway and Cork University Hospital. The immediate developments in the south and west will result in the provision of an additional five linear accelerators. This represents an increase of approximately 50% in linear accelerator capacity. I have provided for the appointment of an additional five consultant radiation oncologists. Recruitment for these posts is under way. We have ten consultant radiation oncologists nationally. This will result in a significant increase in the numbers of patients receiving radiation oncology in the short term.
In relation to other areas of cancer services, significant work is also being undertaken. Under the Ireland-Northern Ireland-NCI Cancer Consortium, awards to the value of €3.5 million are enabling Irish hospitals develop their infrastructure to enable them to carry out high quality clinical trials. Irish hospitals will be able to participate in world-class clinical trials involving the latest advances, helping to ensure that these new and effective treatments are available more readily to patients as a result of this funding.
The new national cancer strategy will target investment for cancer services over the next number of years and will make recommendations in relation to the development and organisation of services nationally. The strategy will also provide a mechanism for the development, implementation, monitoring and updating of clinical guidelines for the treatment of cancer.
