Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2021
247. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if plans are in place to establish an age-appropriate facility designated for adolescents and young adults with cancer within the new national children’s hospital as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56393/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs indicated, the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 recommends the designation of an age appropriate facility for adolescents and young adults with cancer within the new Children's Hospital.
The HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) has advised that the new Children's Hospital at St James's will provide age appropriate facilities and will increase inpatient cancer capacity by 50%. Furthermore, Adolescent and Young Adult beds will increase from 2 to 6, and the facilities will feature a den for Adolescent and Young Adult patients that is aimed at meeting some of the particular needs of this age group.
In 2019, a Clinical Lead for Children, Adolescents and Young Adults (CAYA) was appointed within the NCCP. Since then, a scoping exercise of current CAYA cancer services has been completed. Also, the NCCP established a CAYA Cancer Clinical Leads Group in April 2019 to oversee and implement the recommendations of the National Cancer Strategy and to enhance the delivery of care to Children, Adolescents and Young Adults with cancer nationally.
