Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Doherty for raising the case, representing the family in question, and trying to relieve some of their terrible loss by ensuring that if there are failings in our system, they do not go unchecked and are actually addressed. I commit to following up with the Minister of Health to ensure that the report's findings are implemented. Our cancer system has improved significantly in recent years - everyone would recognise that - but that is not to say there are not failings in the system. A key issue we need to improve is the connection between the GP primary care system and our hospital system so that referrals happen in a seamless, quick, timely manner, which is one of the recommendations of that independent report. While there have been improvements in our cancer treatment system, we cannot rest. We must ensure that we press on and where there are failings in the system, be it in any one hospital or be it systematic, that we address them. I will certainly follow up on that.

On the Deputy's first point, it is a valid point as well that we must ensure that, in managing our Covid system, we do not lose sight of other preventative measures that can save lives. Critical to that is ensuring the return of cancer screening. I understand that BreastCheck is due to return next month. It cannot happen soon enough because we know that early intervention, particularly in cancer, and catching cancer cases early is critical to good outcomes, whether in cervical, breast, prostate or other cancers. We will look at the report and I will make sure that the Department and the Minister for Health in particular comes back to the Deputy on the recommendations. We must also work collectively across the board to ensure that screening and testing systems for cancer are restored, enhanced and are fully operational again within the Covid period so that we catch cancers early and avoid the terrible losses the McMahon family and many other families have suffered from this terrible disease.

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