75. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level of new funding to be made available for the national cancer strategy; if she will implement multi-annual funding frameworks in 2026; when a review of the strategy will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64612/25]
Sentiment score: -0.22
My first question is in relation to the national cancer strategy. The Minister might be aware the Irish Cancer Society has been raising concerns over the past number of weeks and months in relation to access to diagnostics, staffing shortages across cancer centres and cancer services but also insufficient and inconsistent funding for the national cancer strategy. The Minister might outline to the House, if she can, what additional funding has been made available for the national cancer strategy and for cancer services in budget 2026.
Sentiment score: -0.82
The Irish Cancer Society was before the Oireachtas health committee a number of weeks ago. It raised very serious concerns in relation to major delays in diagnostics and treatment, particularly in the areas of colonoscopy, breast and prostate clinics, imaging, surgery and radiation therapy. It raised concerns about severe staffing shortages in radiology, cancer nursing and radiation therapy. I put down a parliamentary question on the number of scanners and the diagnostic equipment that is lying idle, is not being fully utilised or has reached end of life. It is staggering to look at some of the details that have come back. For example, in Sligo hospital, a CT scanner is not fully utilised because one additional whole-time equivalent radiology post is needed, which was approved, and the hospital is still waiting for that appointment to be made. In University Hospital Limerick, one CT scanner is under-utilised; there is a staffing requirement for two whole-time equivalent radiologists needed to run it full time. In Ennis, one CT scanner and one ultrasound machine are under-utilised because four whole-time equivalent radiographers are needed, as well as a radiographer assistant, nurses and so on. At St. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, and this was very helpfully raised by Deputy Boyd Barrett a number of weeks ago, linear accelerator, LINAC, equipment is out of date and needs to be replaced. There is a dire need for investment in equipment and diagnostics in our cancer services. I have not heard from the Minister what additional funding, either capital or current, has been made available, specifically for the national cancer strategy.
Sentiment score: -0.20
I fully understand that cancer services go beyond the national cancer strategy. Of course that is the case. Across all of our acute hospitals, cancer services are provided that are outside the remit of the national cancer strategy. That strategy is also important in bringing together stakeholders. It is meant to bring consistency in services and it looks at where gaps are and so on. I had this discussion with the Minister at the Oireachtas health committee yesterday. I do not need to know exactly how the money is going be spent because that is a matter for the regions. I do not have a quarrel with that. I supported the health regions and I believe in regional health budgets, but it is important for us to know what additional money has gone into any of those strategies or not. It is not what the health regions will spend the money on; it is how much new money they have been given, in addition, to invest in these services. That is what the Irish Cancer Society is trying to find out. It is what other organisations advocating for cancer patients are trying to find out. I cannot tell them. I have told them I have asked the question so many times and I cannot seem to get any answer. I do not know what other way I can raise it other than in here directly with the Minister.
Sentiment score: -0.16
77. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health her plans to reduce waiting lists for diagnostic scans; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64613/25]
Sentiment score: 0.01
This question relates to diagnostic waiting lists and the number of patients waiting for various forms of diagnostic equipment in hospitals across the State. The numbers are quite high, as I am sure the Minister will see. What are her views and plans for how she will reduce those wait times and the number of people who are waiting for a diagnostic scan?
Sentiment score: 0.16
The most recent figures are that almost 300,000 people are on a waiting list for a diagnostic scan. Over 77,000 of those have been waiting more than a year and over 46,000 have been waiting more than 18 months. That is far in excess of any Sláintecare targets. I gave examples earlier of CT scanners and other diagnostic equipment that is not being fully utilised, partly because we do not have the staff. I agree with the Minister that we need to do everything possible to fully utilise existing scanners and equipment. Anything that can be done in hospitals, and consultants doing more, is of course part of it but we also have to recruit the additional staff. The Minister knows there is a shortage of radiologists, radiographers, radiation therapists and other specialties. I also put to her that we need to look at rolling out diagnostic hubs similar to the surgical hubs that were rolled out. They are a really important part of a patient's healthcare journey. Obviously, you go to a GP and then get sent for a scan. However, if you have been waiting a year or two years, particularly if you are concerned, which of course people generally are if they are sent to get a scan, it adds to the stress and the totality of a person's healthcare journey. We can reduce that if we invest more in diagnostics.
Sentiment score: -0.00
I took an active interest in the area of diagnostics after my mother passed. She went for a check in an emergency department and was told she would have to wait for possibly 12 to 18 months for a CT scan. We had the money to send her privately. She had that scan done in a matter of weeks, was diagnosed with cancer and, unfortunately, within a year had passed away. I know how important it is for people to get that timely access. I can only imagine how difficult it is for a person who is told they could be waiting months. They are worried about a potential growth and about symptoms. They have been sent by their GP. There is a human consequence to this. Even if we are looking at reducing the length of time people are in emergency departments, very often people waiting for the scan or X-ray to come back is what can hold up their journey through an emergency department. I believe there is merit in diagnostic hubs. I have discussed this with the Department and the HSE. I am a great believer in elective hospitals and surgical hubs. However, on this one, if we want to reach those Sláintecare targets, we have to look again. The Minister mentioned some of it, and it is welcome that she has a grasp of it, but we need to look at the whole area of diagnostics. Yes, we need more utilisation of what we have, but we also need other methods and investments to reduce wait times.
Sentiment score: 0.03