Patient Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 July 2019

Thursday, 4 July 2019

Ceisteanna (310, 311)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

310. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of patients that attended the rapid access lung clinic in designated cancer centres during the first six months of 2019. [28942/19]

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

311. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of patients that attended the rapid access prostate clinic in cancer centres during the first six months of 2019; and the number of patients attending prostate rapid clinics that attended or were offered an appointment within 20 working days of receipt of referral in the cancer centres over the same period. [28943/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 310 and 311 together.

Rapid Access Clinics (RACs) for patients with suspected breast disease (symptomatic breast disease clinics), prostate or lung cancer symptoms were established by the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) in the eight designated cancer centres (with a satellite symptomatic breast disease clinic in Letterkenny University Hospital) in the period 2009-2012. Rapid Access Clinics provide multidisciplinary care for breast, lung and prostate referrals.

- From January to April 2019, 70.7% of patients referred to Prostate Cancer Clinics were seen within the target time of 20 working days (target: 90%).

- From January to April 2019, 87.3% of patients referred to Lung Cancer Clinics were seen within the target time of 10 working days (target: 95%).

The performance of hospitals in meeting these targets is monitored on an on-going basis by the NCCP.

Figures for Rapid Access Prostate and Lung Cancer Clinics, based on the most recently available data (January-April 2019), are as follows:

Cancer Services - Prostate Cancer	January	February	March	April	Total
Number of patients attending prostate rapid access clinics in the cancer centres	320	244	322	368	1254