Colm Brophy
Question:533. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing funding to cancer survivorship programmes by 10%. [45926/24]
View answerThursday, 7 November 2024
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Maximising the quality of life of those living with and beyond cancer is one of the four pillars of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026.
Recommendations in the current Strategy aim to further survivorship supports and services in cancer care in Ireland. This includes the establishment of psycho-oncology services, provision of treatment summary and care plans, and the development of survivorship programmes. In tandem with these developments, in line with recommendation 41 of the Strategy, The National Cancer Survivorship Needs Assessment was carried out and published in 2019. Findings from this assessment have informed the development of survivorship supports.
Survivorship supports are delivered in different settings, such as hospitals, primary care, and in the community, and vary depending on the needs of those availing of these supports. The National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) has developed and progressed survivorship supports and services. These include the Stratified Self-Managed Follow Up Framework and associated pathways and Treatment Summary & Care Plans for patients, which are presently available to prostate cancer patients work underway to expand this to other tumour types. Survivorship programmes have also been developed by the NCCP for use in Ireland, including Cancer Thriving and Surviving, and the CLIMB programme. These programmes are often delivered in the community in Community Cancer Support Centres.
Community cancer support centres are recognised in the Strategy as a valuable resource, providing access to support to cancer patients and their families outside of the acute care setting. The works closely with a network of Community Cancer Support Centres, particularly in regard to the psycho-oncology model of care and the implementation of survivorship programmes for those living with and beyond cancer.
Community cancer support centres are voluntary and charity organisations delivering services directly to cancer patients and their families that emphasise the importance of quality of life during and after cancer treatment. These services can be availed of free of charge and in local communities. The NCCP Revised Best Practice Guidance for community cancer support centres was published in March 2022. The Alliance of Community Cancer Support Centres was also established in 2022. The Alliance is a HSE initiative which aims to develop a collaborative framework for community-based cancer support centres and services. This programme promotes participation in capacity-building activities and communication and networking forums aimed at ensuring that community-based cancer support services are integrated.
In Budget 2025, I secured €23 million for the National Cancer Strategy, including access to new cancer medicines, expansion of cancer screening, and implementation of the National Cancer Strategy. This will mean over €105 million has been invested into the Strategy since 2017. Funding will support new posts which will in turn expand and deliver on existing survivorship supports.
Within the investment secured for 2025 is €5.5 million which will be allocated to Community Cancer Support Centres. This is on the back of an investment in 2024 of €3 million to the Alliance of Community Cancer Support Centres, which directly supported survivorship programmes for adults and children, lymphoedema therapy, and other important services in communities throughout Ireland.