Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)

The Independent Members brought forward a motion on this issue in 2003. At that time, much reference was made to cancer care apartheid, which continues to exist in this country. I salute Rosie for her bravery in coming forward. Unfortunately, there are many others like her. The day must come when people receive equal access to services. The fact that they do not have such access is what is rotten about the health service and about cancer services in particular.

There is one certainty, namely, if one has money and health insurance one will have a better chance of survival. That is the reality with which we must deal. The situation will get much worse, with the number of cancer cases predicted to rise from 22,000 per year now to 43,000 by 2020.

There are those who accuse Independent Deputies of being parochial and state that we are single-issue candidates who do not take the national interest to heart. Our motion clearly shows that this is not the case. Our work on behalf of our constituents illustrates that we care and that we can make a difference for the betterment of society as a whole. I will provide a number of examples in this regard.

While I serve the people of Mayo, I have initiated campaigns with people such as Jane Bailey and some of my colleagues to ensure that public cancer patients in the south east are not obliged to make long journeys to access radiotherapy. The situation in the region to which I refer has improved, thanks to the efforts of those such as Independent Members. The position is similar as regards radiotherapy centres in the mid-west region and Galway.

My Independent colleagues and I have worked hard on the Joint Committee on Health and Children to represent the needs of patients in the north west who need access to a cancer unit, not in Belfast but in Derry and Letterkenny. People are opting to have mastectomies carried out rather than make the long and horrendous journey to Belfast.

The Minister, Deputy Harney, made excuses in respect of our poor cancer services by stating that we are still playing catch-up as a result of the failed economic policies of the past, but there was sufficient money to ensure that BreastCheck services were rolled out to half of the population. However, enough money has not been invested in the national cancer strategy, which, like the health strategy, the primary care strategy and every other strategy that might make a difference in people's lives, remains underfunded. As already stated, BreastCheck services were rolled out for half of the population following a decade of research which showed that such services could reduce the death rate by 20% to 30%. This is a small island, but those in the North have a better chance of survival than their counterparts in the South and that is a complete scandal.

What sort of a half-baked proposal did the Minister put forward in respect of cervical screening? She stated that it is based on an affordable model. What is meant by the term "affordable model"? Does it mean more of the same? BreastCheck was not rolled out to the entire country because the Government would not spend money on the half of the population that lives in the west and south. That is the reality.

Everyone who is diagnosed with cancer represents an emergency case. In Galway, it can take up to a month before beds can be acquired for elective cases. This compares with cases involving private patients, in respect of whom beds can be made available within a day or two. Public cancer patients are obliged to go through accident and emergency departments, even though they must be seen at least once by consultant oncologists. When they are seen, they must still queue for accident and emergency services. There are cancer patients spread throughout the accident and emergency departments of our hospitals. That is absolutely and utterly scandalous. People have been removed from trolleys and placed in transit lounges similar to that set up in Mayo General Hospital. It is a case of their being out of sight, out of mind.

The Intensive Care Society of Ireland stated last night that there are not enough intensive care beds. A total of 3,000 beds were removed from the system. A similar number were promised, but not delivered, under the national health strategy. The Taoiseach stated last night that these beds are not needed. If that is the case, why the hell did he promise them in the health strategy?

Cancer care services have been massively underfunded. The position in respect of palliative care is disgraceful. Such care is left to charity. Across the country, service provision in this regard resembles a patchwork quilt. There are no dedicated services in this area, which is not acceptable.

The position is similar with regard to dedicated oncology services. To wait one month for a dedicated oncology bed is unacceptable. This year's budget for cancer treatment, €3.5 million, is utterly disgraceful. Ireland is wallowing at the bottom of the European league for cancer treatment. The Independent Members introduced a motion on cancer treatment in 2003, yet the situation has not changed.

According to the Government's amendment, "cancer survival is improving in Ireland for all of the major cancers". What good is that to Rosie and the others who have died since then? What good is that to the 500 women from the west and south west who have died from breast cancer since 2000? These women died from Government neglect because it refused to provide the same money it was prepared to put into cancer treatments in the east.

The Independent Members have given leadership and made a difference on this issue. They represent the people and started the campaign for the national roll-out of BreastCheck. The Independent Members encouraged other parties to support this campaign and I am glad the Labour Party and other Opposition parties did so. The death rate from cancer is in the doldrums. The only way it will change is if the Government puts adequate funding in place. The Government pays lip-service to doctors and others in the health service treating cancer patients. It would be more in its line to give the moneys needed to allow those doctors and nurses to bring Ireland up to European standards. Why should Ireland, one of the richest countries in the world, be at the bottom of the league? It is simply unacceptable.

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