Written answers

Tuesday, 11 July 2023

Department of Health

Cancer Services

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Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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709. To ask the Minister for Health if he will give due consideration to the provision of dedicated funding for a children's, adolescents and young adults (CAYA) specific psycho-oncology service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33647/23]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 emphasises psycho-oncology services as a core part of complete cancer care and recommends the establishment of multi-disciplinary psycho-oncology teams in each designated cancer centre to deliver a comprehensive hospital-based clinical service.

A Clinical Lead for Psycho-Oncology was appointed in December 2018 to engage with the designated centres with a view to establishing these teams.

Funding was allocated to follow up on the outcomes of the National Survivorship Needs Assessment and to advance the development of psycho-oncology services.

The National Cancer Control Programme's (NCCP) Psycho-Oncology Programme includes two models of care:

  • The Psycho-Oncology Model of Care which aims to provide a blueprint for cancer patients and their families about the psychological impact of cancer and to identify professional support for coping with cancer as well as the pathways to access this support both in cancer treatment centres as well as the community at any point in the cancer experience.
  • The National Model of Care for Psycho-Oncology Services for Children, Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer (CAYA), which focuses on supporting children or young adults, as well as their families with the psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis. This Model of Care was launched by the NCCP and Children’s Health Ireland (CHI), Crumlin in May of this year.

    • The NCCP Psycho-Oncology Programmes have a number of key projects which are focused on implementing the National Cancer Strategy recommendations. These include:

  • Development of Psycho-Oncology multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) in the 8 designated cancer centres and at CHI, Crumlin;
  • The development of Psycho-Oncology services for Children, Adolescents and Young Adults at hospital and community level;
  • Development of an integrated patient pathway, paying particular attention to the needs of the whole family.

    • Funding for current expenditure, including cancer services, is allocated on an annual (single-year) basis through the Estimates process with future levels of funding considered as part of the national estimates and budgetary process. Decisions on the funding of cancer services are being made in the context of the Estimates process for 2024.

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