Dáil debates

Wednesday, 13 July 2011

6:00 pm

Photo of Ciarán CannonCiarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly. I welcome the opportunity to address the House on the provision of cancer services, including surgery, at St. James's Hospital.

The burden of cancer continues to increase. This year, approximately 24,000 people will be diagnosed with invasive cancer. Each year an average of over 2,600 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, making it the most common cancer in Irish men other than non-melanoma skin cancer. While approximately 500 men die from the disease each year, it is encouraging to note that estimated five-year relative survival for those diagnosed with prostate cancer in Ireland is now over 89%.

The HSE's national cancer control programme aims to address the challenge of cancer in Ireland. The programme's goals are better cancer prevention, detection and survival through a national service based on evidence and best practice. St. James's Hospital is one of the eight designated cancer centres under the programme. It provides cancer diagnosis, including a rapid-access prostate clinic which is designed to enhance access to early diagnosis and multidisciplinary decision-making, surgery and medical oncology.

Radiation oncology services are now also provided on the St. James's campus in a new unit opened in April 2011. This unit, St. Luke's Hospital and a second new unit on the site of Beaumont Hospital form the St. Luke's radiation oncology network. The development of this network means an overall increase of 50% in radiation oncology capacity over what had previously been available in the eastern region. The new centres reflect the latest advances, equipment and expertise available internationally.

In recent weeks St. James's Hospital has experienced a significant number of patients awaiting discharge to community beds. This means that fewer beds have been available for emergency or elective accommodation and this had knock-on effects in respect of scheduling of elective surgery, including treatment for prostate cancer.

With regard to prostate cancer surgery at the hospital, the national cancer control programme has advised that of the 40 elective urology surgeries booked at the hospital between 1 June and 11 July this year, seven were cancelled. In one instance, the cancellation was due to the fact that the patient did not attend. One of the seven patients affected by the cancellations has already been admitted and treated, while the other six have a date for surgery within the coming three to four weeks. I am pleased to say, on behalf of the Minister, that the hospital now anticipates an improvement in access to prostate surgery as the number of delayed discharges declines.

The latest delayed discharge report already shows a reduction in the number of delayed discharges nationally. The Minister has been advised that the HSE has approved 25 patients for transfer from St. James's Hospital under the nursing homes support scheme since early July. These transfers are now being effected, which will reduce congestion and allow elective prostate cancer surgery to proceed. It is also important to note that St. James's Hospital has confirmed that there is no issue in respect of the resourcing of necessary surgical capacity for these patients or for other cancer patients.

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