Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)

I wish to raise the matter of the report on cancer statistics published this week. Our cancer survival rate does not compare favourably with many countries in the EU 15. Cancer survival rates are linked to European geography but we learned that this is also the case on a national basis. This makes grim reading for the Minister but does not come as a surprise. Two years ago, a report compared cancer survival rates in Northern Ireland with the Republic. The figures showed that, for breast cancer in particular, a greater percentage of women died in the Republic than in Northern Ireland. This week we learn that women in four different regions, the midlands, the south east, the south west and the west, have a higher risk of death from breast cancer than in other regions.

Irish women have poorer survival rates from breast cancer than many of our sisters in Europe and Northern Ireland. Women in four regions, including the midlands and the west, have significantly higher rates of death than our sisters in other regions. This is a stark statistic. These are not minor variations. The risk of death from breast cancer is 28% higher if one lives in the midlands and 26% higher in the west. The poorer survival rates also apply to colorectal and prostate cancer.

The Taoiseach accepted the fact of significant regional variations in survival from those suffering from a number of cancers. As always, the Government states that matters are improving and will get better. There may be truth in this. Who takes responsibility for the failure of the past ten years? Who takes responsibility for the fact that BreastCheck is not available in the north west? Who takes responsibility for the fact that we are 40 years behind our European counterparts because we have no cervical screening programme? Who takes responsibility for the deficit of 18 urologists to treat prostate cancer in Ireland?

Who takes responsibility for the fact that, as the second richest country in Europe, people in the north west do not have reasonable access to a radiotherapy service? There is no promise of a service other than that in Belfast which can barely cope with demand in Northern Ireland. It has committed to take one patient per month. Is that good enough for those living in the north west?

Who takes responsibility for those who need palliative therapy in the north west? This will give them some quality of life as the illness progresses. They are too sick to travel long distances on inadequate public transport. Will anyone take responsibility for the poorer access to chemotherapy and radiotherapy in many regions? This leads to poorer chances of survival. Will the Government state that things are getting better? That is not good enough and does not represent being accountable in the way Ministers and the Government should be. Responsibility lies squarely on the shoulders of one Minister for Health and Children after another.

Will the Minister examine regional services in the context of best practice? Bigger is good, certainly, but it is not always better. Will the Minister ensure multidisciplinary teams are in place and that hospital networks share data with satellite units so that those who live in the regions, especially the west and north west, can have reasonable access to the very best services? This model is in place in a number of countries and it works well. I am asking that whatever new regime the Minister is putting in place, she will guarantee better service, better medical outcomes and geographical access for those in the regions.

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