James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her target waiting time for colonoscopy screening; when this target was introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44696/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I am pleased to confirm that the national colorectal cancer screening programme will commence in early 2012. A two-year preparatory period to develop the programme started in January 2010. The HSE's National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) has responsibility for the implementation of the screening programme. Colorectal screening works on two fronts: it provides early detection and therefore earlier and more effective treatment, and it helps to prevent cancer in the first place by detecting pre-cancerous growths such as polyps.

Colorectal cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among both men and women in Ireland. Approximately 2,200 new cases are diagnosed and around 1,000 people die from the disease each year. A successful national colorectal cancer screening programme has the potential to significantly reduce mortality from this cancer. The screening programme will initially be offered to men and women aged between 60 and 69 years. There are estimated to be just over 400,000 people in this age group. The programme will be extended to all those in the 55-74 year age group as logistics and resources allow.

A key factor in the success of the programme will be the ability of the NCSS to provide adequate colonoscopy screening capacity so that this service is provided in a timely manner to people who have a positive FIT test. The programme will generate a need for roughly 6,000 additional colonoscopies per year and it cannot adversely affect waiting times for urgent colonoscopies in the symptomatic system.

The NCSS has established a Quality Assurance Committee to develop Quality Assurance Guidelines for the colorectal screening programme which should be finalised by the middle of next year. The authors of existing European Union guidelines on colorectal screening have agreed to carry out a peer review of the QA guidelines when they are finalised during 2011. These Guidelines will include strict criteria for waiting times and return of test results.

To assist in achieving adequate colonoscopy capacity it has been agreed that Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) will ultimately be able to perform colonoscopies as part of the national screening programme. The NCSS is currently setting out the job description, training and educational requirements for candidate ANPs who will deliver the service. I am pleased that work on this important initiative is continuing.

In relation to urgent colonoscopies I instructed the HSE in its 2010 Service Plan to monitor that urgent colonoscopies were provided within four weeks. In the case of non-urgent colonoscopies, the HSE has instructed hospitals to refer patients waiting for longer than three months to the National Treatment Purchase Fund. 98.6% of patients referred for urgent colonoscopy were within 28 days of referral on the reporting date (September 2010) . One hospital did not report.