I am delighted to be here today to launch "A Vision of a Cancer Network 5 Years On", a review of the work of the Regional Oncology Programme Office over the past 5 years. I would like to thank Professor John Reynolds, Regional Director of Cancer Services, for his kind invitation.
The Regional Oncology Programme Office’s Five Year Review
Everybody here today is only too well aware of the cancer statistics that we face in Ireland. Over 22,000 cases of cancer are diagnosed each year and over 7,000 people die from the disease.
Having said that, I think it is important to recognise that significant progress has been made in recent years in the delivery of cancer care and that, as a result, survival rates for all the major cancers have been improving. We have also seen very significant growth in services over the past ten years. Over 96,000 inpatients and day patients were discharged from hospital following a diagnosis of cancer in 2006, an increase of 75% over 1997. And over 60,000 people were treated as day cases in 2006, an increase of 140% over 1997.
The South West Region of Dublin has one of the largest cancer workloads in the country. In 2006, St. James’s Hospital alone undertook the treatment of 2,300 new cancer patients. I would like, in passing, to take the opportunity to pay tribute to Prof. Peter Daly, who retired last year as Consultant Oncologist at St. James's. Prof. Daly was one of the first consultants in the field of cancer medicine and made an enormous contribution to the development of oncology services, oncology research and oncology training. His crusading zeal in the cause of developing medical oncology in Ireland and his commitment to his patients were exemplary and I was delighted to hear that last year, he received the Cancer Strategic Development Award. It was richly deserved.
The report we are launching today showcases five years work by the Regional Oncology Programme Office to develop a network of cancer care services in the South West Region of Dublin.
The Office has undertaken some very valuable projects over this period, including the development of GP Cancer Referral Guidelines, which my colleague, Minister Mary Harney, launched last June. It also organised a number of conferences with the acute hospitals experts - most notably, the international cancer conferences, now in their sixth year. These enable leading experts from across the globe to discuss new developments and to have an exchange of information with Irish experts.
It is also good to hear of close collaboration between different agencies in the vital work of educating people about cancer and encouraging them to take personal responsibility for their health. As the report highlights, Dublin City Council worked closely with the Regional Oncology Programme Office on the successful community programmes called Your Health is Your Wealth - which I had the pleasure of launching in 2005 - andWise Up! It’s My Life Too.This was a great example of joined up government in action.
These examples of the work of the Regional Oncology Programme Office show very clearly that the model of centralised cancer care delivery and administrative structures works. Cancer networks are the only way forward to deliver optimum cancer care and improved outcomes. And as the report also confirms, centralised cancer care delivery is in line with best international practice.
HSE National Cancer Control Programme
The 2006 Strategy for Cancer Control in Ireland recommended that all cancer care should be provided through a national system of four managed cancer control networks and eight cancer centres. As you are all aware, St. James’s Hospital has been designated as one of these centres.
Cancer patients need to receive multidisciplinary care from cancer specialists, so as to ensure that they all get the best treatment and have the best opportunity for best outcomes. I know that the Regional Oncology Programme Office for the South West Region of Dublin strongly believes in this approach.
I am delighted that Professor Keane is here with us today. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him once again for taking on the job of re-organising our cancer services. I have had the pleasure of meeting with Professor Keane and I know he is fully committed to the National Cancer Control Programme. He has the full support of the Government in his work.
Voluntary Sector
I am also pleased to see representatives from the voluntary sector here today. The voluntary sector plays a vital role in providing a network of support services to our cancer patients and I would like to pay tribute today to the organisations concerned, including of course the Irish Cancer Society, for all their commitment, hard work and humanity.
Conclusion
In concluding, I would like to commend all the medical consultants and the management and staff of the hospitals involved for their on-going support and commitment to change. And I would like to thank Professor Reynolds once again for his kind invitation to launch this report; to express my appreciation for all the great work that he, Eileen Nolan and Hilary Craig are doing; and to wish the Regional Oncology Programme Office continued success into the future.
Thank you very much for your attention.
ENDS.