Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has received a copy of the survey by the Irish Cancer Society and the Irish College of General Practitioners showing that public patients have slower access to cancer care than private patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2200/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Report 'Early Detection in Cancer: A Needs Assessment of General Practitioners' was a joint study involving the Irish Cancer Society and the Irish College of General Practitioners. The aim of the study was to identify the barriers experienced by General Practitioners to early diagnosis of cancer in order to improve early detection, increase the number of patients diagnosed at an early stage and maximise potential for cure. The key findings of the study include a need for increased patient awareness, improved communications with hospitals, further education and clinical practice guidelines on identification of early stage cancer, appropriate investigative pathways and referral criteria for suspected cancer and identification and screening of 'high risk individuals' and elimination of inequity between public and private patients.

I am firmly of the view that cancer patients should be seen and treated solely on the basis of medical priority. The implementation of the National Cancer Control Programme will serve to ensure equity of access to services and equality of patient outcome. The recent decisions of the Health Service Executive (HSE) in relation to four managed cancer control networks and eight cancer centres will be implemented on a managed and phased basis. The Programme will identify gaps in the provision of existing services, address regional disparities in cancer treatment, and develop a national approach to timely access to diagnostic services for cancer. Prof. Keane, Director of the Programme, has already made significant progress in this regard. He has met with the President of the Irish College of General Practitioners and has received support for his plan to develop a national mechanism for referral of patients into the eight designated centres. In addition, the Lead Consultant Surgeons in the eight designated breast cancer centres have agreed to a common referral process for breast cancer and will institute policy changes in relation to follow up practice.