Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 24 Feb 2000

Vol. 515 No. 2

Written Answers. - Cancer Treatment Services.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Ceist:

17 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the comments made by a number of leading cancer specialists, including persons (details supplied) of St Luke's Hospital, Dublin and Cork University Hospital, who expressed concern regarding the inadequacy of the radiotherapy services available to cancer patients as a result of which only 16% of cancer patients receive radiotherapy compared to an average of 66% in the EU; and the steps, if any, he is taking to improve the availability of radiotherapy. [5499/00]

John Bruton

Ceist:

52 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on whether the present radiotherapy services is adequate to provide radiotherapy treatment in time to those suffering from cancer; and the proposals, if any, he has to expand the current service to provide essential treatment. [4885/00]

Alan Shatter

Ceist:

135 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on whether the present radiotherapy services is adequate to provide radiotherapy treatment in time to those suffering from cancer; and the proposals, if any, he has to expand the current service to provide essential treatment. [5602/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 52 and 135 together.

The claim that only 16% of cancer patients here receive radiotherapy is misleading and is based on a mis-interpretation of the available data. This figure from national cancer registry data represents the percentage of patients who have a regime of radiotherapy planned at initial diagnosis stage. It does not include the radiation given subsequently. These episodes of radiation are not at all reflected in the 16% reported by the national cancer registry.

International figures quoted from a number of countries for total radiation given range from 33% in Sweden to 45% in Great Britain and 57% in the United States of America. Accurate figures for the total life time radiation for Irish patients are not available, but my advice is that they would be estimated at between 40% to 50%, indicating that Irish access to radiotherapy is not out of line with international norms.

I would like to clarify for the Deputies the considerable progress this Government is making in the development of radiotherapy services in the context of an agreed strategy based on a firm assessment of need.

Major advances have taken place in the development of cancer treatment services since 1997, when a major action plan for the implementation of the national cancer strategy was announced. The two principal objectives identified by the strategy are to take all measures possible to reduce rates of illness and death from cancer, in line with the targets established in the health strategy, "Shaping a Healthier Future"; and to ensure that those who develop cancer receive the most effective care and treatment and that their quality of life is enhanced to the greatest extent possible.

Underlying these objectives is the need for a high quality, patient-focused service. One of the specific objectives of the strategy is to ensure that all patients have access to an equitable, effective service with a uniformly high quality of care, wherever they live.

Radiotherapy is a highly specialised and capital intensive service, requiring specialist personnel including for example, therapeutic radiographers, nurses with training in oncology, technical and engineering support staff. A minimum throughput of patients is required in order to maintain and develop the specialist skills required for the service.

Because of these considerations and the complexity of radiotherapy services, the national cancer strategy recommended that radiotherapy ser vices should be provided from two supra regional centres. The two centres currently providing radiotherapy services to cancer patients are St. Luke's hospital, Dublin and Cork university hospital.

The strategy recommended that the case for providing a radiotherapy service from a third supra regional centre at Galway should be kept under review. I am pleased to report that this Government acted quickly in assessing that case and took the decision to provide a service at Galway at an estimated cost of some £10 million. The radiotherapy service there will be provided as part of the overall phase two development at the hospital. This is currently out to tender with a view to construction work commencing in a matter of weeks.

In addition to this major investment in new radiotherapy facilities, the existing services available have also been benefiting from a major injection of resources. I recently announced an important investment in radiotherapy and other cancer services in Cork university hospital, with the allocation of £12.5 million for this purpose. The development will include a chemotherapy day unit, two state of the art linear accelerators and advanced CT simulation facilities. Together with approval for the appointment of two consultant medical oncologists, the improvements will ensure that the service for cancer patients in this area is in line with the best available internationally.

The State's largest radiotherapy centre at St. Luke's and St. Anne's hospital opened in June 1998, having undergone a major redevelopment funded by a capital investment of more than £20 million. Last year, two additional consultant radiotherapists were appointed to the hospital as part of the ongoing process of developing services there.

I am well aware of the need for further investment in cancer services and will continue to identify this as a priority for my tenure of office. The national cancer strategy has to date achieved a widespread enhancement of the range and quality of cancer services available and a major improvement in equity of access to these services. We must continue to look ahead however, and to examine ways of building on the success to date by continual improvement and investment. In this regard, I have received a proposal from the National Cancer Forum to establish an expert review group to examine the appropriate further development of radiotherapy services in this country. It is my intention to act on this proposal and to quickly put arrangements in place for the establishment of such an expert group.

While it must be recognised that significant progress has been made in the development of our infrastructure and services for the treatment and prevention of cancer, I am equally aware of the need for continued concerted effort in this area. It is my intention to continue to work with the National Cancer Forum to ensure that those people requiring cancer treatment services will have available to them a high quality, equitable service that matches the best available anywhere in the world.