Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

I will be delighted to follow up with the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, today. It is like everything in life. The Senator mentioned the good things that happened in the process but when someone has gone through the process, the only concern really is the timing of assessments, whether the scan, the biopsy or the test. I will definitely go back to the Minister on that.

Early diagnosis is so important in cases of cancer. Since the first national cancer strategy in 1996, detection and diagnosis at the earliest possible stage has been a key priority for us. Cancer services and infrastructure have been designed and delivered through successful national cancer strategies alongside developments in treatment, which have led to improvements in cancer survival rates. Breast cancer survivors constitute the largest cancer survivor group in Ireland, comprising 22% of all cancer survivors. As I said, nearly 50% of women at last count are breast cancer survivors, which is really important.

In relation to concerns over waiting times, the time of the triple assessment is determined by a clinician. This is a clinical concern so urgent patients are prioritised. I will definitely come back to the Senator on that.

Access to diagnostics is a challenge across all cancer services and is suggestive of wider pressures on radiology across the health system. The national cancer control programme has produced a range of guidelines aimed at ensuring standardised access to cancer services. These will reduce variations in the management of patients, including those referred for triple assessment, and will lead to more appropriate referral and management of patients. I will get the Senator more information on that.

Where hospitals are challenged to meet their targets, it is important to say this is often due to staff vacancies. Regarding accessing diagnostics and capacity issues, individual hospitals respond to these challenges with local improvement plans, whether additional clinics, outsourcing diagnostics or reviewing patient pathways to another process.

The Government remains committed to implementation of the national cancer strategy and to building on the significant investment and process already made to improve outcomes of patients. This is a timely and important area.

I want to thank the Senator and say how well she is doing. She is an example to all breast cancer survivors in Ireland.