Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 March 2004
363 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children his proposals in regard to equality of access for cancer patients requiring palliative care services in view of the national cancer strategy 1996 statement that it is recognised that patients with an advanced progressive disease will not be able to travel long distances for services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9656/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe publication of the report of the national advisory committee on palliative care was approved by Government and launched on 4 October 2001. The report describes a comprehensive palliative care service and acts as a blueprint for its development over a five to seven year period. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has provided funding to all the health boards on a pro rata basis to commence the development of palliative care services in line with the recommendations in the report.
The report recommended that palliative care needs assessment studies should be carried out in each health board area and these studies are either completed or nearing completion. Information gleaned from these studies will inform the future development of palliative care services at health board level in consultation with the consultative and development committees which have been set up as recommended in the report. In addition, a paediatric palliative care needs assessment study is nearing completion and the report of the expert group on specialist design guidelines for palliative care settings is also nearing completion.
As the Deputy can see, my Department, the health boards and the voluntary sector are actively involved in planning for the development of palliative care services in line with the recommendations in the report of the national advisory committee and funding is being provided for the development of such services on a incremental basis in line with the recommendations in the report.
In regard to access to palliative care services, I wish to advise the Deputy that such services are provided in a number of facilities, both statutory and voluntary, and access to such services for patients in need of palliative care, including those with cancer, is based on need.
