Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

He was taking something down from his phone. I would prefer it if he were listening to me. The real reason I am raising this issue is that I have a deep concern regarding the number of missed diagnoses and delayed treatments. Obviously, there are consequential issues relating to morbidity and mortality.

The Irish Cancer Society estimates that more than 450 cancers and 1,600 pre-cancers went undetected during the pause in screenings from late March to the end of July. On top of that, I have been hearing some very worrying stories. I heard two such stories in the past week alone, involving people who believed they should have had treatments and diagnoses earlier and now have stage 4 cancer. All Members are aware that that is not a very good place to be. I wish them the best. They are young people. I note the comments of a consultant who is deeply concerned about the fact that the numbers simply are not what they were a year ago in the context of his level of diagnosis of patients. That is the reason I am asking the Taoiseach to provide these figures.

I wish to acknowledge that huge strides have been made in respect of cancer care and coronary care as a result of a significant amount of work by many different Governments. However, we must ensure we are not robbing Peter to pay Paul. We must deal with Covid, but we must also ensure we are dealing with the issues of coronary and cancer care, as well as many other illnesses.

We need to see the figures in respect of the diagnosis and treatment of cancer last year as compared with this year. The Taoiseach should make those figures public and bring about a public awareness campaign to encourage people to attend their appointments. He must also ensure that sufficient capacity is put into the system such that patients can be diagnosed and treated to the same standard as pertained last year. We must not allow capacity in these areas to be soaked up because in that scenario non-Covid deaths may outnumber deaths from Covid. I ask the Taoiseach to, please, provide the analysis I am seeking. He is in a better position than I am to provide it so that we can get to the bottom of this issue. I have heard too many worrying stories. What is most important is that a public awareness campaign is begun and for the Taoiseach to ensure that capacity is put in place to deal with these issues.

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