Health Committee to get update on cancer screening and care

Director of the National Cancer Control Programme, Risteárd Ó Laoide; National Screening Service Chief Executive Fiona Murphy; CervicalCheck Clinical Director Nóirin Russell; Irish Cancer Society (ICS) Director of Services, Donal Buggy and ICS Director of Advocacy and External Affairs Rachel Morrogh will appear remotely, via video link before the Committee for the discussion.

Speaking before the meeting, Committee Chairman, Seán Crowe TD said: “The Committee welcomes this engagement to get an update on the Covid-19 impact which we know has led to reduced screening delivery and also delayed referrals which will have a long term negative impact if it’s not addressed now.

“The Committee will want to get an assurance from the health authorities that there is a realistic plan to get cancer patients into treatment so that the long-term impact of delayed diagnosis and delayed treatment is minimised. We know that people with cancer symptoms were discouraged from going to their GP and seeking assessment because of Covid and the risk now is that their cancer may have developed to a later stage which will require more extensive treatment. We will look tomorrow at the catch-up programme that is in place. In addition, screening, which is so important for early detection, was restricted during the lockdown and the capacity of the programmes is still being impacted by Covid and the NSSC will be asked about its requirements to get the screening programme back on track”

View the Committee live.