North west cancer services
Deputy MacSharry argued that the Saolta cancer centre in Galway is underfunded and that the north west service is dysfunctional despite national commitments. The Minister said he would ask Health to reply directly and defended the centres-of-excellence model as having improved cancer outcomes overall.
The national development plan states:
In accordance with balanced regional development, a cancer care network for the Saolta region (West, North West) with a Cancer Centre at Galway University Hospital with appropriate infrastructure will be delivered.
Yesterday, those of us from that region had the opportunity to hear a presentation from Professor Michael Kerin, who is the director of the cancer network in the Saolta University Health Care Group. He informed us that it is the busiest centre of excellence in the country by a country mile - the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will be well aware of this - but that it also has the worst outcomes. That is because of the chronic need for serious investment in the infrastructure, not just in the centre of excellence itself in Galway but also in the regional cancer infrastructure. It is dysfunctional at the moment and, according to Professor Kerin, is not fit for purpose. I have one small anecdote.
Comment on this
When I came back from that presentation, where we heard we do not have enough investment and a dysfunctional cancer service in the north west, I got an email to tell us we have a new logo for the HSE in that area.
Comment on this
It seems we are getting ten out of ten for colour schemes but we have an inadequate cancer service. What does the Government plan to do about this, as a matter of urgency?
Comment on this
It is a critical issue for everyone concerned in the region. I will ask the Minister for Health to refer back to the Deputy directly because I do not have the specific details here. I would make one point, however. It is important we learn from the mistakes of the past but also from the successes of the past. I am long enough in the Dáil to remember the controversy about centralising or having centres of excellence. That cancer care strategy has worked. As I understand it, all outcomes have shown a remarkable improvement for Irish cancer patients, although obviously not in every case. It is sometimes important to learn the lessons from that. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy specifically on that particular site. It is important that we recall success as well as mistakes.