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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - Cancer Treatment Services.

John Dennehy

Ceist:

523 Mr. Dennehy asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will seek to increase the number of urologists in the health service to assist in the treatment of prostate disease; if he has plans for increasing awareness of prostate disease particularly among males over the age of 40; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20048/02]

Since 1997, over €103 million euro has been invested directly in the development of cancer services under the national cancer strategy. In recognition of the need to further develop cancer services, the national health strategy has identified a requirement to prepare a new national cancer strategy for the period 2003-10. This plan is currently being prepared by the National Cancer Forum in conjunction with my Department and will set out the key areas to be targeted for the development of cancer services.

As part of this work, a sub-group of the National Cancer Forum has recently been established on generic screening. This multi-disciplinary group is currently reviewing all issues relating to screening, including examining specific diseases such as prostate and colorectal cancer. The group's recommendations will inform the development of the new national cancer strategy 2003.

In relation to the numbers of urologists in the health service, the Deputy will be aware that I established a national task force on medical staffing earlier this year. The task force is, among other issues, considering the proposed development of a consultant provided public hospital service and quantifying the resource and cost implications involved. The task force is also addressing the reduction in working hours for non-consultant hospital doctors arising from the EU directive on working time and the medical education and training requirements of our hospital medical workforce. The task force will also address the associated medical staffing needs of the Irish hospital system and consider the medical education and training requirements arising from any changes to the current model of delivering services.

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