Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
1042. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the key performance indicators that will be used to measure the performance of general practitioner referrals and access to diagnostics in cancer services in phase 1, 2 and 3 of the Safe Return to Health Services plan of the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21285/20]
View answer1043. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the key performance indicators that will be used to measure the performance of rapid access clinics in cancer services in phase 1, 2, and 3 of the A Safe Return to Health Services plan of the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21286/20]
View answer1044. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the key performance indicators that will be used to measure the performance of surgical oncology in phase 1, 2, and 3 of the A Safe Return to Health Services plan of the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21287/20]
View answer1045. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the key performance indicators that will be used to measure the performance of medical oncology and haematology in phase 1, 2 and 3 of the A Safe Return to Health Services plan by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21288/20]
View answer1046. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the key performance indicators that will be used to measure the performance of radiation oncology in phase 1, 2 and 3 of the A Safe Return to Health Services plan by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21289/20]
View answer1047. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the key performance indicators that will be used to measure the performance of survivorship and psycho-oncology in cancer services in phase 1, 2 and 3 of the A Safe Return to Health Services plan by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21290/20]
View answer1048. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the expected activity for general practitioner referrals and access to diagnostics in cancer services during phase 1, 2 and 3 of the A Safe Return to Health Services plan by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21291/20]
View answer1049. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the expected activity for rapid access clinics in cancer services during phase 1, 2 and 3 of the A Safe Return to Health Services plan by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21292/20]
View answer1050. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the expected activity for surgical oncology during phase 1, 2 and 3 of the A Safe Return to Health Services plan by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21293/20]
View answer1051. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the expected activity for medical oncology and haematology during phase 1, 2 and 3 of the A Safe Return to Health Services plan by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21294/20]
View answer1052. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the expected activity for radiation oncology during phase 1, 2 and 3 of the A Safe Return to Health Services plan by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21295/20]
View answer1053. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the expected activity for survivorship and psycho-oncology in cancer services during phase 1, 2 and 3 of the A Safe Return to Health Services plan by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21296/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1042 to 1053, inclusive, together.
Cancer diagnostic services (including Rapid Access Clinics) have continued throughout the Covid pandemic, with appropriate restrictions for physical distancing and infection prevention and control (IPC). At this point, attendance numbers at urgent Symptomatic Breast Disease Clinics have returned to pre-Covid levels. While attendances are down for Rapid Access Lung Clinics, Rapid Access Prostate Clinics and non-urgent Breast Disease Clinics, they are showing a steady recovery. Monthly attendance figures, and time to treatment are being used to measure performance and recovery in Rapid Access Clinics. Related to this, and in the context of a reticence among people to visit GPs in the earlier phase of Covid-19, GP e-referrals are being monitored to determine the number of people with suspected cancers coming forward, and, as indicated, such referrals have increased.
Maintaining urgent cancer surgeries has been a priority for the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) throughout the Covid period. Clinical Guidance documents were developed by the NCCP, in conjunction with the relevant Surgical Oncology Clinical Leads Group. In many hospitals, the focus was on moving time sensitive and complex surgeries to private hospitals that had the required facilities and support services. Activity levels in surgical oncology are monitored on an on-going basis using HIPE data.
Radiation Oncology services continue to treat all newly referred patients. Given the extent of the equipment involved, and the purpose-built facilities for radiation oncology, services have remained, largely, within public hospitals. The focus is on ensuring that the maximum number of patients can be treated within the KPI timescales for radiation oncology. However, the ongoing need for social distancing and other IPC measures will result in capacity being reduced somewhat from pre-Covid levels in the coming months.
The majority of patients presenting for medical oncology services continued to be treated during the Covid period. However, throughput was reduced, partly because of less patients being referred. The challenges of social distancing and IPC measures will continue to impact and minor capital works are being considered, where feasible, as part of the means of addressing this. Monitoring of activity levels in medical oncology continues using HIPE data The Together 4 Cancer Concern initiative which was commenced in the context of Covid-19 involves community & telephone pyscho-social support for cancer patients, survivors and their families and carers. This is being done as a collaboration involving the NCCP, the Irish Cancer Society, Cancer Care West and the network of community cancer support centres across the country. It includes general and specialist psychological support delivered mainly though telephone and online platforms, with further supports being made available where required.
The possibility of further resourcing of cancer services to address the impacts of Covid-19 are being considered in the contest of the Winter/Continuity of Services Initiative.
