Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 December 2022
640. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if, in light of waiting times for cancer surgery patients, he will negotiate with private hospitals to deliver these urgent surgeries for public patients; and if he has any plans to do so. [62231/22]
View answerFurther to my reply to PQ 588 of the 6th of December the model of care for hospital cancer treatment is centred on eight Designated Cancer Centres serving a defined population and geographic area. The eight designated cancer centres are Beaumont Hospital, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, St. James’s Hospital, St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Cork University Hospital, University Hospital Waterford, University Hospital Limerick and University Hospital Galway.
Chemotherapy is delivered in 26 hospitals approved for Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT). These are the eight Designated Cancer Centres and 18 other hospitals operating on a hub and spoke basis under the planning and supervision of the designated centres.
The centralisation of specialist services into Designated Cancer Centres aims to optimise patient outcomes, through case volume, multidisciplinary working and infrastructural supports.
In 2020 and 2021, cancer services continued to be provided in Ireland during a challenging time for health services globally. The National Action Plan on COVID-19 identified the continued delivery of cancer care as a priority. Cancer diagnostic and treatment services continued to operate, including breast, lung, and prostate Rapid Access Clinics (RACs) for cancer diagnosis.
From June 2020 onwards, treatments across surgery, medical oncology and radiotherapy made a strong recovery after the first months of the pandemic with total activity levels for the year at 80-90% of 2019 figures. This recovery has continued through 2021 and into 2022.
The number of people coming forward to their GPs and being referred to cancer RACs has continued to improve. From January to September of this year, GP e-referrals are at 137.6% of 2019 activity for the same period.
Cancers diagnosed in RACs from January to August of this year (3,956) are at 96.5% of the figure in 2019 for the same period (4,099).
Whilst private health care providers such as the Mater Private Network are independent organisations the Department, the HSE and the NTPF are currently engaging with the Private Hospital Association with a view to considering arrangements which could help reduce acute hospital waiting lists.
