Written answers

Tuesday, 3 April 2007

Department of Health and Children

Hospital Services

10:00 pm

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 286: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the measures she is introducing in the mid-west area to address the regional differences in treatment and survival for breast, bowel and prostate cancers compared to the east of the country, as recently highlighted in the National Cancer Registry report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12447/07]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I welcome the Report on patterns of care and survival of cancer patients in Ireland between 1994 and 2001 which was published last week. This Report, funded by my Department, adds significantly to our understanding of survival patterns of care for four major causes of cancer viz breast, colorectal, lung and prostate.

This Government has invested substantially in all regions in the country to improve cancer survival. The improvements are evidenced in the Report which shows improvements in survival for breast, colorectal and prostate cancers, but not lung cancers, at a national level in that time. At regional level, there were improvements in all regions for breast and prostate cancers and in most regions for colorectal and lung cancers.

We know there are regional variations in cancer survival rates. The Government's National Cancer Control Strategy, published last year, and welcomed by stakeholders, is designed to fundamentally change this, to improve outcomes for cancer patients in each region of the country. We are committed to investing significantly in the implementation of the Strategy. The National Development Plan 2007-2013 includes major investment in the cancer area. We have made available an additional €20.5m this year for cancer control (screening, acute services and research). This is an increase of 74% on the comparable 2006 investment and includes €3.5m to support the initial implementation of the HSE National Cancer Control Programme.

It is the my intention and that of the HSE to ensure that patients, regardless of location, have timely access to high quality, specialised care that will lead to further improvements in cancer mortality. The HSE Cancer Control Programme will manage, organise and deliver quality assured cancer services on a whole population basis, regardless of geography. The Service Plan for the HSE for this year sets out the detailed deliverables of the Programme.

The Deputy's specific question regarding the Mid-Western Region relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the matter raised.

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