Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
957. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if he will delay the current situation in relation to cancer care; the status of any Covid-19 delays to services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41429/21]
View answerThe National Action Plan on Covid-19 identified the continued provision of cancer care as a priority. Cancer services continue to operate in line with guidance issued by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP).
The NCCP is continuing to closely monitor trends in numbers coming forward to diagnostic services, and the level of attendances for appointments for treatment. GP e-referrals to Rapid Access Clinics (RACs) from January to July stand at 117% of the activity in the corresponding period in 2019. New attendances at RACs from January to June 2021 (24,702) is at 96% of 2019 activity (25,791).
Medical and radiation and oncology services are continuing, utilising the safeguards of social distancing and infection prevention & control measures built up in the past year. The number of patients receiving chemotherapy from January to April 2021 was at approximately 90% of 2019 activity, while radiation oncology was operating at 81% of 2019 activity.
Urgent surgery has been prioritised and there has been an emphasis on maintaining safe patient pathways in this regard. For 2021, surgery numbers up to end of May were 64% of 2019 levels. However, this figure does not include surgeries involving public patients that were undertaken in private hospitals, so the overall figure is likely to be higher.
We would point out that data for 2021 may be subject to some change due to on-going validation processes. The availability of data has also been impacted by the ransomware attack in May this year.
Funding of €12m has been allocated this year for the restoration of cancer services to 95% of 2019 (pre-Covid) levels. This funding is being used to support hospitals in addressing backlogs, extending clinic times, providing additional clinics, increasing diagnostic capacity and providing locum/temporary support. It is also supporting virtual clinics and more accurate triage, and facilitating infrastructure and minor equipment purchases to increase capacity across RACs and surgical oncology, medical oncology and radiation oncology services.
In addition, as part of Budget 2021, an extra €20m has been allocated for the continued implementation of the National Cancer Strategy this year. This funding is being used to facilitate developments across prevention, diagnosis, treatment and patient supports.
