Dan Neville
Ceist:2 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children when the national cancer strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10919/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 7 April 2004
Ceisteanna (2)
Freagraí ó Béal (12 píosaí cainte)
The national cancer forum is currently developing a new national cancer strategy. This strategy will build on the progress made during the implementation of the 1996 national cancer strategy and set out the key priority areas to be targeted for the development of cancer services over the coming years. The strategy will have regard to developments and best practice in other jurisdictions and will make recommendations on the organisation and structure of cancer services nationally.
A significant body of work has been undertaken in the development of the strategy to date. Representatives of the national cancer forum have met with representatives of the Eastern Regional Health Authority and all health boards. The forum wrote to over 90 professional bodies, voluntary bodies and other stakeholders to obtain their views on cancer treatment services. Members of the public have been consulted through advertisements placed in the media.
As part of the preparation of the new strategy, an evaluation of the extent to which the objectives of the 1996 strategy have been met has been carried out by Deloitte Consultants. This report was published in December 2003. The key goal of the 1996 national cancer strategy was to achieve a 15% decrease in mortality from cancer in the under-65 year age group in the ten year period from 1994. The Deloitte evaluation demonstrated that this reduction was achieved in 2001, which was three years ahead of target.
As part of the development of the strategy, sub-groups of the national cancer forum were established on genetic screening, organisation of cancer services, evaluation and outcomes, evidence based medicine, genetics, nursing and patient issues. The work of these sub-groups is informing the development of the new strategy, which it is expected will be completed in July.
In regard to the implementation of the 1996 strategy, since 1997 there has been a cumulative additional investment of approximately €550 million in the development of cancer services. This includes an additional sum of €15 million which was allocated in 2004 for cancer services. This substantial investment has enabled the funding of 90 additional consultant posts in key areas such as medical oncology, radiology, palliative care, histopathology, haematology and radiation oncology. An additional 245 clinical nurse specialists have also been appointed in the cancer services area.
The benefit of this investment is reflected in the significant increase in activity which has occurred. For example, the most up-to-date figures show that the number of new patients receiving radiotherapy treatment has increased from 2,402 per annum in 1994 to 3,809 in 2000. This means that an additional 1,407 patients are accessing these services, representing an increase of 58%. It can be taken that the figure has increased significantly since then because of further expansion.
The number of new patients receiving chemotherapy treatment has increased from 2,693 in 1994 to 3,519 in 2000, representing an increase of 30% nationally. Given the appointment of additional oncologists since then, it can be taken that this number has increased. Breast cancer is the individual site-specific cancer which has received the most investment in recent years and in-patient breast cancer procedures have increased from 1,336 in 1997 to 1,839 in 2001, an increase of 37% nationally.
I thank the Minister for his reply. He stated the national cancer strategy will be available in July, as he had promised. What role will the national cancer forum have in advising and influencing the strategy? How can it have influence as it has not met or deliberated since May 2003 and has difficulty in meeting due to circumstances of which the Minister knows? Does the Minister accept he identified the forum as the main advisory body in the development of the strategy? Has he received any recommendations on the deliberations of the forum regarding the radiotherapy report?
On the latter question, the chairperson of the forum--——
I asked about the forum itself.
The forum has endorsed the radiation oncology strategy. The chairman of the forum has communicated to me that he thinks it is the best model.
It is the forum rather than the chairman which recommended it.
I presume the chairman is communicating with me on behalf of the forum. In any event, it was the previous forum which established, following my request, the radiation oncology expert group — I hope the Deputy follows the sequencing in regard to that initiative. The radiation expert group was charged with providing the model for Ireland for radiotherapy facilities at an international, world class standard. It is interesting that the American Cancer Society visited Ireland this week and that its leading members have endorsed the model produced by the expert group as ideal and in accordance with best world practice. Other international experts on cancer, such as the National Cancer Institute, have also endorsed the radiotherapy strategy and have stated it is an ideal opportunity for Ireland to get it right for the Irish people and to ensure better outcomes, survival rates and so on.
With regard to the cancer strategy, it is the forum which is predominantly charged with that work in consultation with the officials in secondary care within my Department, specifically those within the cancer area of responsibility, who have worked with the forum in this regard. I met the chairperson of the forum following the evaluation carried out by Deloitte Consultants. Various sub-groups were formed from the forum to deal with specific areas of the strategy, particularly in the context of screening and the advisability of taking that route.
Does the Minister accept that because of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association's dispute, the forum has not met since May 2003?
The Irish hospital consultants' dispute has only arisen in the past two months.
Does the Minister accept the forum has not met since May 2003?
The consultants are not participating on any committee or body, which is regrettable, particularly as the Department is making a significant effort on behalf of taxpayers and Government to resolve issues for the benefit of consultants, the hospital system and so forth.
Does the Minister accept the forum has not met since May 2003?