Written Answers. - Cancer and Cardiac Screening Services.
Ivor Callely
Ceist:
127
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the number of deaths due to cancer related illness and cardiac related illness over the past five years; if he will give a breakdown for each illness and year; if improved assessment, treatment and other interventions assist in a reduction in mortality; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18354/00]
The information required by the Deputy regarding the number of deaths due to cancer related illness and cardiac related illness over the past five years is as follows:
|
Year
|
All Cancers
|
Cancer of the trachea, bronchus & lung
|
Cancer of the female breast
|
Ischaemic Heart Disease
|
|
1995
|
7,519
|
1,574
|
654
|
7,926
|
|
1996
|
7,306
|
1,480
|
632
|
7,605
|
|
1997
|
7,528
|
1,391
|
641
|
7,355
|
|
1998
|
7,493
|
1,526
|
602
|
7,218
|
|
1999
|
7,454
|
1,434
|
638
|
6,876
|
There has been considerable development in the care and treatment of patients with cancer in recent years. Since the launch of the national cancer strategy in November 1996, and the announcement of the action plan for the implementation of the strategy in March 1997, considerable improvements have taken place in this area. The two underlying principles of the national cancer 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.
Since the strategy was launched, regional directors of cancer services were appointed in each health board area, with two co-regional directors of cancer services appointed in the North Eastern Health Board area. The regional directors were asked to prepare plans for the development of cancer services in their area and these plans were then submitted to my Department. The National Cancer Forum and Professor James Fennelly, special adviser on cancer services to the Depart ment, advised on appropriate developments in each area. On a national basis, some £41 million of dedicated funding has been allocated since 1997 for the development of cancer services. My Department is continuing to work with the National Cancer Forum and the regional directors of cancer services in identifying priorities for the further development of cancer services in all regions, building on the major progress made to date. On cardiac related illness, in January 1998 the then Minister announced a major new programme to tackle cardiovascular disease built around three key initiatives as follows: the development of additional public cardiac surgery facilities to tackle the existing backlog of patients awaiting surgery and to guarantee public hospital patients access to cardiac surgery within an average waiting period of six months; the development of a national strategy for cardiovascular health; and the development of a national heart-lung transplant programme.
I have provided a total of £3.6 million in 2000 to meet the costs of improvements in cardiac care infrastructure at several sites nationwide to facilitate the development of additional public cardiac surgery facilities. In addition, I have also provided £12 million in 2000 to implement the recommendations of the Cardiovascular Health Strategy Group by developing structures and mechanisms which promote cardiovascular health, reduce inequalities and ensure a high quality of service provision while reducing variations in access to and quality of service.
As Minister for Health and Children, my priority is to address the existing cardiac surgery waiting lists and the ultimate objective is to achieve an average six month waiting period for those on the lists. I am confident that the development of additional adult public cardiac surgery facilities at St. James's Hospital, Dublin and the proposed new cardiac surgery developments at University College Hospital, Galway will help reduce the waiting lists which exist at present. Target activity levels are in the region of 450 procedures annually at St. James's Hospital and 300 procedures at UCHG. This additional activity will increase existing adult public cardiac surgery capacity by over 50%. I am also developing additional children's cardiac surgery capacity at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin in association with the national cardiac unit, Mater Hospital to provide for up to an additional 100 cardiac procedures for children. This additional activity will increase existing paediatric cardiac surgery capacity by up to 40%. It is also proposed to increase cardiac surgery capacity at Cork University Hospital.
