Martin defends regional spread of cancer services

A staunch defence of the Government's cancer treatment services was made by the Minister for Health last night. Mr Martin said that the State now had one of the best models in Europe for cancer treatment services.

He rejected Opposition criticism of "health apartheid", claiming they were making a debate about "geography and not the quality of patient care and patient survival rates". The Government could not provide a proper cancer treatment service across 30 hospitals, he stressed. It was best provided in a limited number of hospitals on a regional basis.

The Minister was speaking during a private members' motion on cancer services, introduced by the "technical" group of Independent TDs and smaller parties.

Dr Jerry Cowley (Ind, Mayo) said that Government policy "is deciding whether people live or die". He calculated that the South Eastern Health Board "spent €28.2 million in 12 years on transport and accommodation costs for radiotherapy patients. It costs this amount of money to transport people to receive this treatment, yet for half the money, the same service could be provided locally. We do not have enough oncology beds, nurses and staff," and it was a "disgrace," he said.

Mr Martin said, however, that it was "easy to attack the Government but we have come a very long way in cancer treatment".

Some €400 million had been spent on cancer care since 1996 when €25 million was initially envisaged to implement the National Cancer Strategy. It had taken two years to set up phase one of the cancer treatment service, which was a multi-disciplinary approach.

Mr Paudge Connolly (Ind, Cavan-Monaghan) expressed concern that cancer care was driven by administrative priorities.

Mr Finian McGrath (Ind, Dublin North Central) said there was a need for "reform, efficiency and, above all, more investment".

Mr John Gormley (GP, Dublin South-East) said there was a huge investment in cancer care but the number of cases was rising and the causes had to be investigated.

Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) said it was "quite remarkable" that two days before a planned march by Cancer Care Alliance, the Minister announced the extension of Breastcheck, a key demand of the campaign.