Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House this morning but I was expecting the Minister for Health to be here to deal with what is a very serious matter. Nonetheless, I will air my concerns because they are important and ask that the Minister of State relays them in full to the Minister for Health.

I met Craig Bolger in my constituency office in Carlow last week. He asked that I use his name because he wants me to be his voice. He is a family man, devoted to his ten year old son Brandon, who was diagnosed with cancer on 27 March this year. Brandon's cancer was detected through a stubborn verruca and later operated on. He was lucky that his mother and father kept asking questions and kept fighting for treatment because it took a lot of back and forth to get a diagnosis. I am raising this today because Craig and his wife Sandra have had to fight for their son every step of the way since they first noticed that stubborn verruca. Brandon's cancer, which affects bone or soft tissue, is rare. It is called Ewing sarcoma. In one day, Brandon had a line inserted into his neck, had two teeth pulled and underwent a lumbar puncture. He is a resilient little boy who never complains. His smile is infectious and he would brighten up any room. He should not have to be fighting anything but cancer now. However, Brandon is supposed to have chemotherapy every 14 days at Our Lady's Children's hospital in Crumlin but because of a lack of beds, his chemotherapy has been repeatedly delayed over the last few months. This has happened on several occasions, not just to Brandon but to other children too. This week, Craig raised his frustration with me, with local and national media and on social media. His son's chemotherapy, which has to be administered on time was delayed by five days this week. This little boy is seriously ill. Why did this happen? During this delay, Craig shouted loudly and eventually on Tuesday he got a bed for his son but this is just not good enough. Brandon should get a bed when he needs one. We now have a system in which members of the public have to make a huge noise in order to effect change. If there is an ability to help people, why does our healthcare system make them beg? The Bolgers have asked why they have to beg for a service that should be in place for their seriously ill son. Why can people only get help when they shout about it? Why can they not get the help they need straight away? Why do they have to go to newspapers or radio and television stations? Brandon has a hell of a fight on his hands already. Why does he have to fight for this?

Brandon is going to Barretstown on 5 October. There are great people there and there are great people in Our Lady's hospital in Crumlin and in the health service generally. There are also great parents who should not have to fight these kinds of battles for their children. They are at the end of the tether as it is and are crying out for help. We cannot have a system that does not treat children because of a lack of capacity, funding or resources. Whatever the reason, it is unacceptable. We have children on waiting lists for diagnosis, for surgery and for treatment. They are waiting for care, for treatment and to be seen and to be heard. I ask the Minister of State to explain why this has happened, not once but several times to Brandon and to many other children. Why have children in Crumlin been left waiting for chemotherapy? Why are their parents fighting for a bed? I ask the Minister of State to put a stop to this. I ask her to relay this message to the Minister for Health. He must give a commitment to Craig Bolger and his son Brandon that they will not be waiting for chemotherapy services. No child in this country should be left waiting for chemotherapy or for a bed. A child can wait for Christmas but cannot wait for treatment.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Murnane O'Connor for raising this matter and apologise on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, who cannot be here this morning as he is attending a meeting in the Department. I am sorry but that is the truth.

At the outset, I wish to convey my sympathies to any family experiencing delays in receiving timely treatment in our hospitals. I can only imagine the distress caused by any disruption to a patient's treatment but particularly to a child undergoing chemotherapy.The Minister, Deputy Harris, has been advised by the hospital that delays are being experienced as a consequence of essential maintenance works in three rooms in St. John's oncology ward. As a parent of a son who, in his early years, spent time in this ward, I am aware of the extraordinary and exceptional job being done by the staff in caring and comforting young children and their families at a time when their lives are being turned upside down. These works, combined with an increase demand on Crumlin hospital's oncology service for inpatient beds is proving a particular challenge at present for the site. The hospital recognises, and sincerely regrets, the impact that the change in admission date has on had patients and their families. Furthermore, any decision to delay admission or treatment is not taken lightly. When such decisions are made, they are made to ensure a safe environment, with safe delivery of care to all patients the priority at all times.

Last year, the Minister, Deputy Harris, launched the national cancer strategy under which cancer services for children and adolescents-young adults are an area of particular focus. The strategy aims to further develop child and young adolescent cancer services in the new national children’s hospital. The schedule of accommodation of the new haematology and oncology unit in the hospital will significantly increase the capacity to deliver more comprehensive cancer care. This could include treatment of specific clinically driven conditions for adolescents-young adults who have paediatric-centric tumours and are aged between 16 and 20 years. The aim is to ensure that patients are treated in the centre - adult or paediatric - most appropriate to their needs.

Nationally, the national cancer control programme leads the implementation of the new cancer strategy in the HSE. This involves providing leadership across the continuum of care, from diagnosis to treatment to appropriate follow-up and support, in both the hospital and community setting. The children’s hospital group will work with the national cancer control programme in particular on the development of adolescent and young adults' cancer services, contributing to the development of the survivorship programme. Services for the treatment of cancer include surgery, radiotherapy and systemic anti-cancer therapy, SACT, which includes medical oncology and haemato-oncology. The majority, but not all, of cancer surgery now takes place in the designated cancer centres. Our Lady’s children's hospital, Crumlin is the designated cancer centres for paediatrics.

I assure the Senator that in the context of improving hospital services for all patients, the Minister, Deputy Harris, is in ongoing contact with the children’s hospital group and he will be engaging with it on this matter in terms of seeking assurances for the maintenance of oncology activity and targets at Crumlin hospital. On my own behalf, and as Minister of State at the Department of Health, I apologise to Mr. and Mrs. Bolger and their son for the delay in the provision of his treatment. As the report outlines, there are difficulties, particularly around the maintenance of this unit, and these are being addressed.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for her reply, which I will relay to the family. I know that she has experience of the system. In fairness to the staff of Crumlin hospital, I know they are under pressure. However, this family is deeply upset at the delay in the provision of treatment for their son. I ask the Minister of State to relay to the Minister, Deputy Harris, that no child or cancer patient should be left waiting for chemotherapy or any other type of treatment. I will also contact him to ensure he is aware of the urgency in this regard, not only for the Bolger family but all families.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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It is a very sad case, which I hope will have a positive outcome.