Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Successive National Cancer Strategies have delivered continuing improvements in outcomes for Irish cancer patients in terms of earlier diagnosis, better treatment, and improved rates of survival.

The National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 was approved by Government in 2017. The Strategy has a robust implementation framework which is used to actively track cancer services across the State. Effective prevention, early diagnosis, access to quality treatment, survivorship, patient involvement and safe high-quality patient-centred care are key aims of the Strategy.

This Government’s commitment to implementation of the National Cancer Strategy is evidenced by significant investment in recent years. Over 2021 and 2022, €40m new development funding was allocated to cancer services and €30m was allocated for new cancer drugs.

The delivery of cancer services across a limited number of designated cancer centres is in line with international best-practice, allowing the full integration of high-quality cancer care, combined with research and education. This ensures adequate case volumes, multidisciplinary working and infrastructural requirements, which are important determinants for patient outcomes. The Strategy notes that cancer patients should have access to high quality care staffed by appropriate specialists as close to home as possible, with specialist services centralised into the designated cancer centres as required to optimise outcomes for patients.

A number of cancer services are appropriate to be delivered outside of the eight designated cancer centres. For example, Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) is delivered in 26 centres nationally, including in the eight designated cancer centres. The hospital in question is not a designated cancer centre and does not provide medical oncology or SACT services.

In the context of the National Cancer Strategy the capacity of cancer centres is kept under regular review, and my Department works closely with the National Cancer Control Programme in ensuring that services and treatments are delivered for cancer patients in the appropriate setting, taking into account the resources, facilities, and expertise needed at each centre.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 534 and 535 together.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to the matters raised.