Cancer director to oversee national strategy

The Government is to announce today the setting up of a new national cancer post to oversee major reforms to the way the disease is treated in Ireland.

Under Government plans a director will be given responsibility for funding of the State's oncology services.

The Government's new cancer strategy calls for streamlining delivery of cancer services.

It also places heavy emphasis on screening and on health promotion measures.

The strategy will propose that in future cancer services in the Republic should operate as part of four integrated networks.

Each network would provide integrated primary care, hospital care, palliative care, psycho-oncology and support services.

Under the strategy the planned networks would cater for around one million people.

The new strategy is critical of existing cancer services and maintains that there is much to be achieved in this area, although it points out that death rates from the condition in those under 65 have fallen by 15 per cent over recent years.

However, it says survival from many forms of cancer in Ireland is still below the EU average.

It says that even within Ireland survival rates vary between regions.

It says: "There is inequality in the availability, access to and performance of cancer services throughout the country."

It maintains that existing cancer care is fragmented.

The report states that a comprehensive cancer strategy - covering health promotion and prevention as well as diagnosis and management - is vital given that the number of people with the condition is expected to grow significantly.

It proposes that all patients should have their diagnosis established and treatment planned by specialist multi-disciplinary teams.

Last week a report of the National Cancer Registry forecast that the incidence of the condition was projected to almost double over the next 14 years.

The establishment of the new cancer control networks forms the centrepiece of the reforms set out in the new strategy.

It is expected that each network will be asked to increase capacity in its region to take account of the number of cancer cases in the years ahead as the population ages.

Over time, however, hospital cancer services could be concentrated in a smaller number of large centres.

Earlier drafts of the strategy suggested that cancer services could be provided in around eight centres across the State, each serving a minimum population of 500,000.

Under these plans there would be two, or possibly three hospital cancer centres in each network.

Such a development could have significant implications for the role of a number of smaller hospitals in the delivery of cancer care, particularly in the case of complex cancers.

Cancer strategy: main points

• Cancer care to be administered in four integrated networks

• Networks to cater for one million people

• National cancer director to be appointed to oversee services

• National cancer supremo to control budget for services around the country

• New expanded cancer screening programme expected to be announced

• Increased emphasis on health promotion and cancer prevention

• Scope for primary care to play greater role in cancer care

• Hospital cancer services could, in future, be concentrated in smaller number of larger centres

• Services in the State are currently fragmented