The Government's objective is to provide a model of cancer care which ensures that patients with cancer receive the most appropriate and best quality of care regardless of their place of residence. In order to achieve this objective, an integrated and co-ordinated approach is required, which encompasses prevention, screening, cancer treatment, including medical, surgical and radiation oncology, education, training and research.
Government policy in relation to radiation oncology services is based on the report on the development of radiation oncology services in Ireland. The group which prepared the report formulated guidelines for the development of additional radiation therapy facilities as follows: a sufficient patient population should exist within a proposed catchment area to support the future development of a radiation oncology service; a radiation oncology service should enable maximum patient access to the highest quality service; other clinical specialties and support services that enable the appropriate function and development of a radiation oncology centre and-or supra-regional cancer centre should exist on the site; radiation oncology must be part of organised multi-disciplinary cancer care; a radiation oncology service should take account of patient groups with special needs; a radiation oncology service should develop links between those hospitals providing radiation oncology care and other hospitals involved in the provision of cancer care but without physical treatment facilities; and where radiation oncology facilities are not available on site, it will be important to provide appropriate outreach services particularly through the development of joint clinical and other appointments between hospitals and-or health boards.
I am satisfied that the application of these guidelines in the development of radiation oncology services as part of a multi-disciplinary cancer service will best ensure that cancer patients have access to the highest quality of care. The Government is committed to making the full range of cancer services available and accessible to cancer patients throughout Ireland. To this end, we will provide considerable investment in radiation oncology facilities in the coming years.
We are determined to deliver enhanced services for the whole population as soon as possible. There is unanimity about the urgent need for significantly enhanced services in the major population centres of Dublin, Cork and Galway. I will keep the question of networked satellite locations under active review. The immediate developments in Cork and Galway will result in the provision of an additional five linear accelerators. Five additional consultant radiation oncologists are being recruited for this service. These developments will significantly improve access to radiotherapy for patients throughout the country.
As recommended in the report on the development of radiation oncology services in Ireland, the national radiation oncology co-ordinating group, NROCG, has been established. The group comprises clinical, technical, managerial, academic and nursing expertise from different geographic regions. The group's remit encompasses recommending measures to facilitate improved access to existing and planned services, including transport and accommodation. The group is expected to develop proposals in these important areas. The group will also advise on quality assurance protocols and guidelines for the referral of public patients to private facilities. The group is also in the process of developing a national telesynergy network for radiation oncology services which will enable hospitals to develop improved linkages with the supra-regional radiation oncology centres in Galway and Cork and St. Luke's Hospital in Dublin and reduce patient and consultant travel time.
In relation to the development of private facilities on public hospital sites, I am in the process of developing an overall policy framework which will identify the policy issues which need to be addressed and the key criteria to be applied. I hope to complete this work in a matter of weeks.
