Ms Rachel Morrogh:

I thank the Deputy for this question and highlighting that the health service can itself sometimes be a barrier to an early cancer diagnosis. Our research shows that three out of ten people have put off accessing a GP or hospital appointment because they are hearing this narrative that they should not attend a hospital or emergency department unless it is urgent. However, 14% of cancers are diagnosed in an emergency department. People are not well placed to identify whether their symptoms are urgent, and who should or should not attend. When one hears this message, we know it has a chill effect on people's behaviours. They may decide to try to manage their symptoms as home. They may search the Internet for information or ask family and friends. The message from the Irish Cancer Society is "please go and seek medical advice." We are very conscious of the pressures taking place across the health service. However, the blame should not be put on patients for trying to access medical care. What we need is a health service that can meet the demand from citizens so they can access care in a timely way. What this committee can do, and what politicians can do, is make sure that the narrative coming from all of them is that people can get timely care when they need it. That is sadly not the case at the moment. We need additional investment. There has to be a focus on the workforce. We know that people who have been working in the health service over the course of the pandemic are burned out. They were not empowered to deliver the service that they want to deliver. It is hugely distressing for them also to be working in the conditions they are. We think there needs to be an unwavering focus on getting people into cancer services so they get an early diagnosis because we know their quality of life and their outcomes will be so much better. We cannot keep on going from crisis to crisis, because that is the way the health service is performing at the moment. It comes up for air over the summer months, and is then plunged into another crisis. That is not sustainable healthcare. The cancer czar in the UK has called the National Health Service, NHS, a late diagnosis service currently. That is sadly reflected in Ireland as well.