Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
1366. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department has taken to date and plans to take in relation to reviewing capacity in each of the eight cancer centres (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48795/23]
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.
The National Cancer Strategy (2017-2016) sets out a plan of improving earlier detection, providing more effective treatments, and transforming how we provide services to those with a cancer diagnosis across the patient pathway. This strategy is being actively progressed in order to reduce the burden of cancer.
The delivery of cancer services across a limited number of designated cancer centres is in line with international best-practice, allowing the full integration of high quality cancer care, combined with research and education. This ensures adequate case volumes, multidisciplinary working and infrastructural requirements, which are important determinants for patient outcomes. The Strategy notes that cancer patients should have access to high quality care staffed by appropriate specialists as close to home as possible, with specialist services centralised into the designated cancer centres as required to optimise outcomes for patients.
Over the course of the Strategy, there has been significant investment in cancer services, including through provision of increased patient attendance at Rapid Access Clinics, increased capacity and improved facilities in day wards, and through developments under the National Plan for Radiation Oncology, a strategic programme which has delivered projects such as the new radiation oncology facilities at Cork University Hospital and University Hospital Galway. Any such planning and delivery of services is done with future demand as well as current needs in mind.
A number of cancer services continue to be delivered outside of the eight designated cancer centres. For example, Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) is delivered in 26 centres nationally, including in the eight designated cancer centres. The SACT Model of Care, launched in June 2022, proposes a patient-centred approach to deliver SACT care in a location closer to the patient's home, where clinically appropriate. Many psycho-oncology services are delivered locally, often through community cancer support centres, ensuring patients can access supports local to home both during and after receiving acute treatment.
In the context of the National Cancer Strategy the capacity in each of the eight designated cancer centres is kept under regular review, and my Department works closely with the National Cancer Control Programme in ensuring that services and treatments are delivered for cancer patients in the appropriate setting, taking into account the resources, facilities and expertise needed at each centre.
