Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1936. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he intends to provide €20 million in annual development funding for the National Cancer Strategy to ensure that it is implemented by its expiration in 2026; the steps he is taking to ensure its full implementation by 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39247/23]
View answerSuccessive National Cancer Strategies have delivered continuing improvements in outcomes for Irish cancer patients in terms of earlier diagnosis, better treatment, and improved rates of survival. This Government’s commitment to implementation of the National Cancer Strategy is evidenced by significant investment in recent years. €20m new development funding was allocated to cancer services and €15m was allocated for new cancer drugs in both 2021 and 2022. This increased total funding for cancer services to €139m in 2022.
We have seen significant progress on the implementation of the Strategy over the past six years, with clear evidence-based policy direction from my Department and strong implementation by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP). It is important that we continue to invest in cancer services, as the incidence of cancer is projected to grow due to demographic change and improved detection of cancer.
The yearly National Cancer Strategy Implementation Report and Key Performance Indicators for 2022 was published on 6 June 2023. The Report sets out the progress achieved on the improvement of cancer services and the delivery of better outcomes for patients, as set out in the 52 recommendations of the Strategy. The Report measures the achievement of these recommendations against the key performance indicators, which focus on reducing preventable cancer, promoting early detection, and driving improvements in treatment and after-care for cancer patients.
Progress on implementation of the National Cancer Strategy has continued and in 2022 the government allocated €35 million extra funding, which included €20 million for new development funding, and €15 million for new cancer drugs. This significant investment has had a real impact on access to cancer diagnostics, treatment and supports.
In 2022, 172 new staff were recruited to cancer services from this new development funding, which represent a 20% increase in total staffing for cancer. Cancer surgeries returned to above 2019 thresholds with more than 16,200 surgeries performed, more patients were seen at Rapid Access Clinics with attendances at 104% of 2019 levels, and over 126,000 chemotherapy treatments were administered, more than ever before.
Key achievements for 2022 include:
• An additional 172 posts were created in cancer services, with recruitment ongoing for a further 198 posts.
• Funding of €3.4 million supported increased patient attendances at Rapid Access Clinics (RACs) and improved performance against national Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). This indicates strong recovery from the impact of COVID-19, with new RAC attendances in 2022 at 104% of 2019 levels.
• An additional €3 million was allocated to support cancer surgeries from new development funding, ensuring a return to 2019 levels following disruption to these services in 2020 and 2021. Numbers of cancer surgeries surpassed 2019 levels with 16,226 cancer surgeries carried out in 2022 compared to 16,085 in 2019.
• €2.07 million was provided for enhancing radiotherapy services, including 25 additional staff and the continued rollout of new and innovative forms of radiotherapy.
• Construction of a new €56 million radiation oncology facility at UHG was completed in 2022, with first patients seen in Q2 2023.
Since 2020 there have been new cancer treatments and models of care launched in Ireland thanks to the continued implementation of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026:
• The NCCP Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) Model of Care builds on the previous work of the NCCP Systemic Therapy Programme. Twenty-five key recommendations were set out in the NCCP SACT Model of Care to optimise SACT services to ensure the provision of a safe and quality driven service for all service users.
• The NCCP Psycho-Oncology Programme includes two models of care. The Psycho-Oncology Model of Care which aims to provide a blueprint for cancer patients and their families about the psychological impact of cancer and to identify professional support for coping with cancer as well as the pathways to access this support both in cancer treatment centres as well as the community at any point in the cancer experience. The CAYA Psycho-Oncology Model of Care which focuses on supporting patients that are children or young adults, as well as their families with the psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis.
• Ireland's first adult CAR T-cell Centre was opened in St James's Hospital, Dublin, in 2021 allowing patients to receive this ground-breaking immunotherapy treatment in Ireland for the first time. The treatment was also made available to children in Ireland via Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) in 2022.
Funding for current expenditure, including cancer services, is allocated on an annual (single-year) basis through the Estimates process with future levels of funding considered as part of the national estimates and budgetary process. Decisions on the funding of cancer services are being made in the context of the Estimates process for 2024.
