Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

I am taking the Adjournment on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Mary Harney, Minister for Health and Children. I welcome the opportunity to address the issues raised by the Deputy and to set out the current position regarding the national cancer control programme and the provision of transport services for cancer patients.

Professor Tom Keane took up his post as national cancer control director on 19 November last. The decisions of the Health Service Executive to designate four managed cancer control networks and eight cancer centres will be implemented on a managed and phased basis.

The designation of cancer centres aims to ensure that patients receive the highest quality care while at the same time allowing local access to services where appropriate. Where diagnosis and treatment planning is directed and managed by multidisciplinary teams based at the cancer centres, then much of the treatment, other than surgery, can be delivered in local hospitals.

A detailed transitional plan is being put in place to facilitate the progressive, gradual and carefully managed transfer of services over the next two years or so. The HSE plans to complete 50% of the transition of services to cancer centres by the end of this year and 80% to 90% by the end of 2009. The HSE is putting in place a structured programme of quality assurance, support and information services to underpin the re-organisation of services to ensure that cancer patients will receive quality services as close to home as possible.

Professor Keane and the HSE have emphasised the importance of mobilising existing resources and redirecting them to achieve the national cancer control programme objectives. Arrangements are in hand to enable Professor Keane to take control of all new cancer developments and, progressively, all existing cancer services and related funding and staffing. Additional funding of €35 million has been allocated for cancer control in 2008, representing a 71% increase over the equivalent funding for last year which was €20.5 million. This includes funding of €15 million for the implementation of the national cancer control programme. Further investment in cancer control will be based on the reform programme now being implemented by the HSE.

The HSE currently provides transport for cancer patients in a range of circumstances. In many cases this is managed locally at the hospital or at community level. The HSE has advised that it makes every effort to assist patients who require transport and patients are encouraged to make direct contact with the treating hospital to determine suitable arrangements. Where difficulties are brought to the notice of any staff member, options are explored and the most suitable arrangements put in place for patients.

Following completion of the current HSE review on transport services, the national cancer control programme expects to be in a position to administer current expenditure on cancer transport. The programme has also allocated €750,000 to the Irish Cancer Society which will administer a grants programme based on agreed criteria to enable patients to be transported to designated cancer centres for necessary treatment. This will be in addition to the existing hardship-related programme which the Irish Cancer Society administers.

The Government is committed to making the full range of cancer services available and accessible to cancer patients throughout Ireland in accordance with best international standards. The developments which I have outlined to the House will ensure that comprehensive quality-assured treatment and support services are available to all cancer patients nationally.

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