The Republic's new cancer chief has yet to be told the cancer budget of a number of acute hospitals, meaning it could be three months before he can finalise the money needed to implement the National Cancer Control Programme, writes Dr Muiris Houston, Medical Correspondent
In an interview with The Irish Times, Prof Tom Keane, the cancer expert who has recently taken up the post of interim national director of cancer control, on secondment from the British Columbia Cancer Agency, said he welcomed this week's Budget announcement of €35 million for cancer services.
However, he did not rule out approaching Minister for Health Mary Harney for additional funding. Prof Keane said most of the funding for the eight new specialist cancer centres was in the system but he needed each region of the Health Service Executive to tell him how much it spent on cancer. Without this information, he could not say with certainty what additional funding he may require. "There are issues around gaps and deficiencies. I plan to get an inventory of what is required . . . in the next three months I will know."
It is understood there is considerable disquiet at the delay, given the loss of public confidence in cancer services and the fact that Prof Keane is obliged to return to the British Columbia Cancer Agency at the end of 2009.
Dr James Reilly, health spokesman for Fine Gael, said this "further indicates the poor preparation behind plans for centres of excellence."
Labour health spokeswoman Jan O'Sullivan said: "It seems incomprehensible that work was not done in advance of Prof Keane's arrival so that he could start work immediately."
Prof Keane said any further delay in agreeing a new consultant contract would be a "deal-breaker" for the cancer control programme.