Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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188. To ask the Minister for Health the number of instances reported whereby patients seeking treatment for cancer have been put on waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48546/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The quality and safety of our health services, including cancer services, has been a focus over the past number of years and this will continue in 2014 in the context of the HSE Service Plan for 2014. I wrote to the HSE on Thursday 31 October to confirm that the Executive has until 15 November to submit its Service Plan. In that letter, I also conveyed to the Executive that my overriding priority is patient safety, with the next priority being to treat patients in as timely a fashion as possible. A key priority for 2014 will be to further support the eight designated cancer centres, within available resources, to maintain continued improvements in diagnosis, surgery and multi-disciplinary care.

Clearly, the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cancer is a high priority for my Department and the HSE. I welcome the huge improvements that have been made in recent years, led by the HSE National Cancer Control Programme. It is very encouraging to note that five year relative survival for all cancers is rising and is now 56.4% for people diagnosed between 2003-2007, as compared with 49.6% for people diagnosed in 1998-2002. The HSE has established symptomatic breast clinics and rapid access, lung and prostate clinics in each of the eight cancer centres. Performance of these clinics is monitored through the collection of key performance indicators. The HSE has advised that in Q3 2013, access targets for both urgent and routine referrals to breast cancer clinics are being exceeded in the designated cancer centres in aggregate (95%). In relation to access to lung cancer clinics, 94.9% of patients in Q3 2013 in aggregate were offered an appointment within 10 working days, just under the target of 95%. While further progress is required in relation to access targets for prostate cancer clinics in Q3, the percentage of patients being offered an appointment within the target time is 50.2%, up from 47% last year. All referrals to these centres are triaged and urgent cases are prioritised and appointments offered to all appropriate patients in the first instance.

With regard to paediatric cancer care, Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin is the national tertiary paediatric and adolescent referral centre for all cancer services. I am advised that children are treated according to international protocols and standards of care, that all care is clinically prioritised by consultants and that there are no extraordinary delays for children accessing cancer services.

In relation to the Deputy's query regarding the number of instances reported whereby patients seeking treatment for cancer have been put on waiting lists, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly on this.