MORE THAN 1,000 people throughout the country have been waiting more than three months for a test that can diagnose bowel cancer, but just one in five has responded to an offer of a free test from the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).
Data provided by hospitals to the NTPF, which manages waiting lists for public hospitals, shows there are 1,073 people waiting more than three months.
This is an increase of 13 per cent, or 122 more people, since figures were published in May, the Irish Cancer Society said.
Irish Cancer Society head of advocacy and communications Kathleen O’Meara said: “We don’t know why hospitals are not using the resource that is available to them to clear their backlog. It is important that hospitals, and indeed patients themselves, are aware that the NTPF service is available.”
Ms O’Meara explained that the fund had written letters to patients currently waiting more than three months to tell them that they are entitled to a free colonoscopy in a private hospital.
“We do not know why patients are not taking up the offers in greater numbers, but the response rate to these letters is surprisingly low, at less than 20 per cent,” she said.
The cancer charity called for the implementation of a national bowel cancer screening programme for everyone living in Ireland aged between 50 and 74.
At the end of February this year, Minister for Health Mary Harney announced a bowel cancer screening programme for the 60 -69 age group to be rolled out by 2012.
“We think this is a good start but we will be seeking assurances from the Minister for the completion of the rollout as soon as possible to include the 55-74 age group as a crucial step towards ensuring that more people are diagnosed earlier, treated effectively and survive this disease,” Ms O’Meara said.
Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in Ireland after lung cancer. In 2008 there were 2,216 new cases and 966 deaths from the disease.
The NTFP confirmed it is in a position to treat all of those patients who have been waiting more than three months. It urged patients to respond to their letters and said a test could be arranged free of charge within weeks.
Fine Gael’s Seanad spokeswoman on health Senator Frances Fitzgerald said the high-profile death from cancer of Susie Long in 2007 had proved a “watershed moment” in the “widespread understanding of the inequitable two-tier health service”.
But she said that following that case, Ms Harney had promised patients would not wait more than a month for colonoscopy referrals.
Patients who believe they may qualify for treatment under the NTPF may contact the fund at 1890 720820.