Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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669. To ask the Minister for Health if he has received any correspondence from general practitioners expressing concerns of a perceived increase or decrease in cancer diagnosis, late cancer diagnosis or missed cancer diagnosis as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic since he took office; if so, the dates upon which he received the correspondence from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60810/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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No correspondence has been received to date by my Department from general practitioners expressing concerns of a perceived increase or decrease in cancer diagnosis, late cancer diagnosis or missed cancer diagnosis as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic since I took office as Minister for Health.

In 2020 and 2021, cancer services continued to be provided in Ireland during a challenging time for health services globally. The National Action Plan on Covid-19 identified the continued delivery of cancer care as a priority. Cancer diagnostic and treatment services continued to operate, including breast, lung, and prostate Rapid Access Clinics (RACs) for cancer diagnosis.

The NCRI Annual Report for 2022 was published on the 29th of November 2022. The report shows further data on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer diagnoses indicates that the pandemic resulted in a 10% reduction in cancer diagnoses (based on all cancers) or 11% (based on microscopically verified cancers) in 2020, compared to what was expected that year. 

The Government has allocated increased funding to cancer services in recent years, which was used to maintain services during Covid-19 and to drive improvements. In 2021 the Government allocated €57m to cancer services: €20m in new development funding, €12m for measures against Covid-19, €15m for new cancer drugs, and €10m for cancer screening. In 2022 the Government allocated an additional €20m in new development funding to cancer services.

Funding in recent years is being used to drive improvements in Rapid Access Clinics for the main tumour types, which help patients to be diagnosed and treated at an earlier stage. The National Cancer Control Programme in the HSE launched an Early Diagnosis of Symptomatic Cancer Plan in May of this year, which has the aim of raising awareness of cancer among health practitioners as well as the general population. For anyone who has concerns about cancer, the key message is that they should contact their GP where they can be referred for diagnosis and treatment. For people without symptoms, screening programmes for breast cancer, cervical cancer and bowel cancer are available free of charge for people who are eligible.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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670. To ask the Minister for Health if he will listen to the call from the trans communities for an informed consent model that GPs lead in local communities; his views on whether the National Gender service, as it currently stands, is unfit for purpose; and his views in relation to same. [60828/22]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to the development by the HSE of a well-governed and patient-centred health care service for adults and children in the transgender community, in line with the Programme for Government. 

A model of care for transgender children, adolescents and adults was developed by the HSE Quality Improvement Division. The HSE model of care is underpinned by a local response model including general practice, psychology and CAMHS, working with specialist mental health and endocrinology services. Complex cases would be referred onto tertiary specialist care. The model of care is partly implemented within community services. The model of care deals with services for children and adults. Children can be referred to paediatric up until the age of 18 years. An adult service is provided by the national gender service in St Colmcille’s Hospital. 

A steering committee which was established to examine the development of the HSE transgender identity services produced a report in 2020. This committee included representatives of all stakeholders, including advocacy representatives, and was chaired by Dr Siobhan Ni Bhriain on behalf of the chief clinical officer. The report acknowledged the additional funding made available to develop services in recent years. It also advised on the development of seamless interfaces between agencies providing gender services. The committee agreed a job description for a consultant psychiatrist in child and adolescent psychiatry in CHO 7 and CHI to develop the service for those aged under 18 (and to replace the current system of psychological support provided by the Tavistock Clinic). This consultant psychiatrist would develop and lead a MDT to support the delivery of gender identity services for those under 18. This position has been advertised twice but is not yet filled. 

My colleague, Minister Donnelly has held constructive meetings with both the National Gender Service and Transgender Equality Network Ireland on the matter. It is anticipated that further meetings will be held with other stakeholders to hear their views and proposals.

I believe the development of a service in Ireland for adults, children and young people is essential. It is the priority of the Dept of Health and the HSE to provide a transgender healthcare service that meets the needs of the population