Written Answers Nos. 178-199
178. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the acreage for land use and square meterage for building use that will be required for the planned elective hospitals in Cork and Galway, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3563/23]
View answerI have asked the HSE, as Sponsoring Agency with day-to-day responsibility for the delivery of these health infrastructure projects in Cork and Galway, to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
179. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the overall national radiology waiting lists by hospital and scan type (details supplied) by quarter in each of the years 2019 to 2022, respectively. [3589/23]
View answerThe requested diagnostic waiting list data is outlined in the documents attached, which sets out waiting list data for all Quarters from 2019 to 2022 for CT, MRI and Ultrasound. The HSE advises that, at present, further diagnostic scans (including cholangiopancreatography, electroencephalogram, angiogram, and bone scan), are not yet captured.
The HSE advises that a pilot project commenced in 2016 by the HSE Acute Hospitals Division to progress the collection of national radiology waiting list data. The project has been supported by the Radiology Clinical Care Programme and has involved key stakeholders across the system including the National Integrated Medical Imaging System (NIMIS) Team, Hospital Groups, and the support of the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) for data collection and data management expertise.
The information that is currently being collected is presently being tested and validated at hospital, hospital group and national level and as such should not be used/reported without the context of the caveats set out below:
- Data is subject to inclusions and exclusions which are documented in the Data Profile Document. This document is available from Acute Operations and has been circulated to all Hospital Groups.
- Data contains urgent, routine and surveillance/planned activity which is currently not broken down in detail, as such this includes surveillance/planned activity which may not be exceeding planned date.
- Data is still undergoing validation at Hospital and Hospital Group level.
- Data does not take into account local nuances at site level (Site profile developed to support understanding of same).
- The purpose of this aggregate data is to provide a National Level overview of the number of patients waiting for modalities of CT, MRI and Ultrasound.
- This report is not intended to be used for the active management of hospital diagnostics waiting list, local reports and mechanisms should continue to be used for the management of diagnostics waiting lists at hospital level.
Non-NIMIS_DiagnosticSummaryQ1_2019
NIMIS_DiagnosticSummaryQ1_2019
Non-NIMIS_DiagnosticSummaryQ2_2019
180. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who were waiting for an urgent colonoscopy by waiting time period for each quarter in each of the years 2019 to 2022, respectively. [3590/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
181. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who were waiting for a colonoscopy through the BowelScreen programme by waiting time period for each quarter in each of the years 2019 to 2022, respectively. [3591/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
182. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of electronic referrals to lung rapid access clinics by month in each of the years 2019 to in 2023, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [3602/23]
View answer183. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of eReferrals to prostate rapid access clinics by month in each of the years 2019 to 2022 and to date 2023, in tabular form. [3603/23]
View answer184. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of eReferrals to breast clinics by month in each of the years 2019 to 2022 and to date 2023, in tabular form. [3604/23]
View answer185. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of urgent eReferrals to breast clinics by month in each of the years 2019 to 2022 and to date 2023, in tabular form. [3605/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 182, 183, 184 and 185 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
186. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of GP cancer referrals received electronically as a proportion of overall GP referrals. [3606/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
187. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the development funding available to cancer services in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3607/23]
View answerBudget 2023 sets out a budget of over €23.4 billion, the single largest investment in the Irish Health and Social Care Services in the history of the State. In 2021 this Government invested an additional €32 million in cancer services, including €12 million to help services address the additional challenges of Covid-19 and €20 million for new developments in services. In 2022 an additional €20 million was allocated to cancer services, which was used to drive improvement in services for cancer patients and their families.
This year's allocation will be used to ensure the continued rollout of the National Cancer Strategy, and includes €3.8 million for cancer screening services including BreastCheck, Cervical Check and the National Cervical Screening Laboratory.
Following a review of the 2023 National Service Plan (NSP), the HSE is revising the plan in line with considerations and feedback provided. I expect to receive a revised NSP shortly for consideration.
In line with the Health Act 2004, the NSP, when approved, will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas within 21 days. After this the HSE will ensure it is published at the earliest possible time.
Funding allocated to each service area will be documented in the NSP when approved and published.
188. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health when the 2023 HSE Services Plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3608/23]
View answerFollowing a review of the 2023 National Service Plan, the HSE is revising the plan in line with considerations and feedback provided. I expect to receive a revised NSP shortly for consideration.In line with Act, the NSP, when approved, will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas within 21 days. After this the HSE will ensure it is published at the earliest possible time.
189. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the issuing of the pandemic bonus payment to two healthcare workers (details supplied). [3632/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
I would also like to remind the Deputy that it is against Department policy to comment on individual cases.
190. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if persons (details supplied) will receive the part needed for their wheelchair in the allotted delay period of 11 weeks indicated in a representation made on their behalf; if not, the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3634/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) has responsibility for the provision of aids and appliances under the Community Funded Schemes, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
191. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health when the clinical review of the medical cannabis access programme will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3638/23]
View answerA review of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme commenced in 2022. The review continues the work of the previous clinical expert group and seeks to build on evidence found in the earlier study. Once the evidence based synthesis is completed, expected by mid-year, a clinical review group will be formed to evaluate this evidence and to complete an assessment of the MCAP programme.
192. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the action he will take to ensure that the pandemic bonus payment is paid to employees of private companies who have refused to complete the paperwork to ensure that their staff can get the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3656/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
193. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 808 of 5 April 2022, the reason a buy-and-leaseback arrangement is preferred rather than the HSE retaining full ownership of the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3683/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
194. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number and proportion of persons diagnosed with all cancers (details supplied) from 2012 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3685/23]
View answer195. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number and proportion of persons diagnosed with colorectal cancer at stages I, II, III, IV or unknown stage from 2012 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3686/23]
View answer196. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number and proportion of persons diagnosed with breast cancer at stages I, II, III, IV or unknown stage from 2012 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3687/23]
View answer197. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number and proportion of persons diagnosed with lung cancer at stages I, II, III, IV or unknown stage from 2012 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3688/23]
View answer198. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number and proportion of persons diagnosed with cervical cancer at stages I, II, III, IV or unknown stage from 2012 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3689/23]
View answer199. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number and proportion of persons diagnosed with prostate cancer at stages I, II, III, IV or unknown stage from 2012 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3690/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 194, 195, 196, 197, 198 and 199 together.
The National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 was approved by Government in 2017. The main goals of the National Cancer Strategy are to reduce the cancer burden, provide optimal care, maximise patient involvement and quality of life, and enable and assure change. Effective prevention, early diagnosis, access to quality treatment, survivorship, patient involvement and safe high-quality patient-centred care are key aims of the Strategy.
This Government’s commitment to implementation of the National Cancer Strategy is evidenced by significant investment in recent years. New development funding of €20 million was allocated in 2021 and a further €20 million was provided for 2022. This funding was used to support ongoing initiatives and to drive improvements across all stages of the cancer continuum, including to continue provision of and improve performance of Rapid Access Clinics (RACs) for breast, lung and prostate cancers. These clinics are being used to help patients get access to early diagnosis and treatment and are important for addressing waiting lists for cancer services.
The National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) is charged with collecting and classifying information on all cancer cases that occur in Ireland. The NCRI produces annual reports covering cancer incidence, mortality and survival.
The most recent year for which the NCRI has published incident cancer case counts is for 2020. This data was published in its 2022 annual report, which is available at: www.ncri.ie/sites/ncri/files/pubs/NCRI_AnnualStatisticalReport_2022.pdf.
The below figures indicating stage of cancer at diagnosis have been provided by NCRI. These figures are for the period 2012-2018, which are the most recently available figures and are based on the major histological cancer subtype(s) at the sites listed. It is important to note that there have been changes in the staging criteria from 2014 onwards, meaning the figures are not directly comparable prior to and from 2014.
The numbers and proportions of diagnoses provided below are provisional and subject to further update by NCRI. Data for later years and for an “all cancer” group are not currently available.
Stage breakdown of cancers diagnosed 2012-2018, by number and proportion of cases by stage, by selected cancer site
Colorectal cancer (ICD-10 C18-20)
|
Stage I |
Stage II |
Stage III |
Stage IV |
Unknown |
Total |
|
|
2012 |
384 (16%) |
627 (26%) |
758 (31%) |
480 (20%) |
181 (7%) |
2430 |
|
2013 |
326 (14%) |
626 (26%) |
728 (31%) |
501(21%) |
197 (8%) |
2378 |
|
2014 |
376 (15%) |
585 (24%) |
739 (30%) |
571 (23%) |
177 (7%) |
2448 |
|
2015 |
425 (16%) |
618 (24%) |
801 (31%) |
565 (22%) |
194 (7%) |
2603 |
|
2016 |
426(17%) |
634 (25%) |
797 (31%) |
526 (20%) |
191 (7%) |
2574 |
|
2017 |
371 (15%) |
587 (23%) |
705 (28%) |
496 (20%) |
371 (15%) |
2530 |
|
2018 |
402 (15%) |
635 (24%) |
699 (27%) |
475 (18%) |
404 (15%) |
2615 |
Lung cancer (ICD-10 C34)
|
Stage I |
Stage II |
Stage III |
Stage IV |
Unknown |
Total |
|
|
2012 |
504 (21%) |
188 (8%) |
593 (25%) |
889 (38%) |
189 (8%) |
2363 |
|
2013 |
516 (21%) |
193 (8%) |
623 (25%) |
909 (37%) |
203 (8%) |
2444 |
|
2014 |
523 (21%) |
204 (8%) |
559 (23%) |
975 (40%) |
188 (8%) |
2449 |
|
2015 |
566 (22%) |
257 (10%) |
561 (22%) |
993 (39%) |
167 (7%) |
2544 |
|
2016 |
548 (22%) |
229 (9%) |
568 (22%) |
975 (38%) |
238 (9%) |
2558 |
|
2017 |
512 (19%) |
206 (8%) |
508(19%) |
919 (34%) |
558 (21%) |
2703 |
|
2018 |
468 (18%) |
206 (8%) |
448 (17%) |
808 (30%) |
723 (27%) |
2653 |
Breast cancer (ICD-10 C50)
|
Stage I |
Stage II |
Stage III |
Stage IV |
Unknown |
Total |
|
|
2012 |
966 (33%) |
1260 (43%) |
401 (14%) |
191 (7%) |
81 (3%) |
2899 |
|
2013 |
996 (33%) |
1355 (45%) |
347 (12%) |
238 (8%) |
80 (3%) |
3016 |
|
2014 |
1063 (36%) |
1192 (40%) |
414 (14%) |
188 (6%) |
87 (3%) |
2944 |
|
2015 |
1176 (37%) |
1301 (41%) |
405 (13%) |
197 (6%) |
65 (2%) |
3144 |
|
2016 |
1185 (36%) |
1339 (41%) |
420 (13%) |
219 (7%) |
132 (4%) |
3295 |
|
2017 |
1041 (31%) |
1135 (34%) |
395 (12%) |
184 (5%) |
628 (19%) |
3383 |
|
2018 |
1183 (33%) |
1257 (35%) |
417 (12%) |
162 (4%) |
596 (16%) |
3615 |
Prostate cancer (ICD-10 C61)
|
Stage I |
Stage II |
Stage III |
Stage IV |
Unknown |
Total |
|
|
2012 |
38 (1%) |
2393 (69%) |
506 (15%) |
310 (9%) |
213 (6%) |
3460 |
|
2013 |
20 (1%) |
2275 (68%) |
557 (17%) |
305 (9%) |
195 (6%) |
3352 |
|
2014 |
1568 (45%) |
773 (22%) |
505 (15%) |
401 (12%) |
210 (6%) |
3457 |
|
2015 |
1593 (49%) |
683 (21%) |
489 (15%) |
352 (11%) |
150 (5%) |
3267 |
|
2016 |
1603 (46%) |
724 (21%) |
532 (15%) |
421 (12%) |
174 (5%) |
3454 |
|
2017 |
1648 (44%) |
620 (17%) |
595 (16%) |
398 (11%) |
456 (12%) |
3717 |
|
2018 |
1426 (37%) |
652 (17%) |
561 (14%) |
305 (8%) |
936 (24%) |
3880 |
|
Stage I |
Stage II |
Stage III |
Stage IV |
Unknown |
Total |
|
|
2012 |
38 (1%) |
2393 (69%) |
506 (15%) |
310 (9%) |
213 (6%) |
3460 |
|
2013 |
20 (1%) |
2275 (68%) |
557 (17%) |
305 (9%) |
195 (6%) |
3352 |
|
2014 |
1568 (45%) |
773 (22%) |
505 (15%) |
401 (12%) |
210 (6%) |
3457 |
|
2015 |
1593 (49%) |
683 (21%) |
489 (15%) |
352 (11%) |
150 (5%) |
3267 |
|
2016 |
1603 (46%) |
724 (21%) |
532 (15%) |
421 (12%) |
174 (5%) |
3454 |
|
2017 |
1648 (44%) |
620 (17%) |
595 (16%) |
398 (11%) |
456 (12%) |
3717 |
|
2018 |
1426 (37%) |
652 (17%) |
561 (14%) |
305 (8%) |
936 (24%) |
3880 |
Cervical cancer (ICD-10 C53)
|
Stage I |
Stage II |
Stage III |
Stage IV |
Unknown |
Total |
|
|
2012 |
144 (48%) |
41 (14%) |
66 (22%) |
42 (14%) |
6 (2%) |
299 |
|
2013 |
138 (49%) |
38 (13%) |
59 (21%) |
39 (14%) |
9 (3%) |
283 |
|
2014 |
134 (48%) |
43 (15%) |
56 (20%) |
37 (13%) |
11 (4%) |
281 |
|
2015 |
125 (50%) |
34 (14%) |
51 (21%) |
34 (14%) |
4 (2%) |
248 |
|
2016 |
153 (53%) |
40 (14%) |
61 (21%) |
31 (11%) |
6 (2%) |
291 |
|
2017 |
133 (46%) |
44 (15%) |
72 (25%) |
36 (12%) |
5 (2%) |
290 |
|
2018 |
132 (43%) |
36 (12%) |
66 (21%) |
47 (15%) |
26 (8%) |
307 |
I hope this information is helpful to the Deputy.
