Harney urged to improve cancer services

There were developments in the treatment of cancer, Minister for Health Mary Harney told the House. She said the first prostate brachytherapy procedures in the public health system were performed in University College Hospital, Galway (UCHG) last Friday.

"This is now one of the accepted forms of curative treatment for men with early-stage prostate cancer.

"The team performing this procedure at UCHG have, over a decade, experience with the technique and have delivered this treatment to over 700 patients internationally in that time. Now they are bringing that expertise to Galway. The two patients in Galway were back at work on Monday," Ms Harney said.

She was speaking during a debate on a Private Members' motion in which Independent TDs demanded a series of measures to improve cancer treatment. Ms Harney said that since 1996, about €1 billion had been invested in cancer services nationally. A new cancer director would be appointed by international competition in the coming months.

The Independent TDs called for vigorous programmes for cancer prevention, including educating children from a young age about the illness and measures to prevent it.

Cervical and breast screening programmes should be extended to all areas of the State, 3,000 acute hospital beds should be provided, the scrapping of the Government's bias towards the privatisation of healthcare, and the provision of regional radiotherapy centres, were also sought.

James Breen (Independent, Clare) said that every year there were, rightly so, campaigns about road deaths. But there was only a brief reference to a cancer awareness programme. "Yet more people die from cancer than do on our roads," he said.

Catherine Murphy (Independent, Kildare North) said the survival rate was still better for those who could pay for their care.

Finian McGrath (Independent, Dublin North Central) said he and his colleagues were putting forward sensible proposals. It was not just a question of attacking the Government.

"We have a crisis relating to cancer in this country. We have 7,500 people dying each year." He said that everybody was entitled to a quality public health service.

Paudge Connolly (Independent, Cavan-Monaghan) said that many dreaded the word "cancer". But an early diagnosis should be facilitated, because the earlier the intervention, the better the outcome. "Some cancers are preventable, and that has to be taken on board," he said. Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said the Government's preventable health budget was 0.25 per cent of the overall budget, which was very low by international comparisons.

"As a result, we are dealing with crisis issues, given that people have been living an unhealthy lifestyle and, in many cases, do not get early detection." Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) said the Government's " ideological addiction to public-private partnership" had delayed the delivery of lifesaving cancer services.