Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 May 1995

Vol. 453 No. 5

Written Answers. - Oncology Services.

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

57 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Health the views, if any, he has on the report drawn up by the Irish Society of Medical Oncology in relation to the provision of facilities throughout the country for the treatment of cancer. [9447/95]

Brian Cowen

Ceist:

77 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Health, with a view to addressing the lack of oncology provision outside Dublin city, if he will instigate a review of the needs of each health board in relation to the number of patients currently awaiting or receiving treatment; if he will give consideration to the establishment of regional oncology centres to be serviced by existing oncology specialists with adequate funding for the provision of staff; and if preventive measures similar to public health campaigns targeted at smokers will be instigated. [9270/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 77 together. Oncology services are already provided on a national basis at a number of major regional hospital locations and through the operation of a comprehensive network of out-patient clinics at local level.

On taking office I set as a priority the further development of services to combat cancer. Accordingly, I established a review group in the Department, under the chairmanship of the chief medical officer, to prepare a comprehensive cancer strategy which is due for completion in the coming months. The initiative will concentrate on four main areas: prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care. The objective is to take all measures possible to reduce the incidence of cancer and to ensure that those who develop cancer receive the most effective care and treatment.

In relation to cancer treatment services the review group is initially carrying out an audit of existing cancer treatment services provided in each health board area. The group is also consulting widely with interest groups and recently met with the Irish Society of Medical Oncologists to discuss the recommendations which it outlined in a report submitted to the Department in November 1994 on how our cancer services should be developed in the future. The review group also had discussions recently with the Faculty of Radiologists of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland. In addition, I am aware that a joint working group of consultant medical and radiation oncologists is formulating a more detailed plan which I look forward to receiving in the near future. This type of inter-specialty co-operation is an example of how I wish to see our cancer services organised. The integration of the various medical professionals involved in the cancer service will be essential in developing a multi-professional input into the care, management and treatment of persons suffering from the disease.

The cancer review group will draw up its recommendations with regard to treatment services on completion of the audit and the consultative process. When I have had an opportunity to consider the findings of the review group I will be bringing any necessary proposals to Government for approval as a matter of urgency.

It is clear that the prevention of cancer through health promotion activities must form a key element in any cancer strategy. In relation to smoking, I will be seeking to develop further health prevention initiatives aimed at reducing the incidence of smoking related cancers. These initiatives will build upon the success of previous preventative strategies which contributed to a decline in the incidence of smoking from 43 per cent of adults in the early 1970s to 28 per cent today.