Eamon Gilmore
Ceist:72 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children when he expects that the national cancer strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10808/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 7 April 2004
Ceisteanna (79)
Freagraí scríofa
The National Cancer Forum is currently developing a new national cancer strategy. This strategy will build on the progress that has been made during the implementation of the 1996 national cancer strategy and will 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 in regard to 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 representatives of the ERHA and all health boards. The forum wrote to more than 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 generic 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. It is expected that the strategy will be completed in July.
In regard to the implementation of the 1996 national cancer 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 number of new patients receiving radiotherapy treatment has increased from 2,402 in 1994 to 3,809 in 2000. This means that an additional 1,407 patients are accessing these services, representing an increase of 58% nationally. 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. 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. This is an increase of 37% nationally.