The gaps in cancer care are a result of lessening government commitment to the National Cancer Strategy, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice.
Deputy Rice said:
“Today’s Irish Cancer Society report shows a postcode lottery exists for patients trying to access vital cancer care – receiving treatment for a serious illness should never be left to chance.
“Cancer services used to be the jewel in the crown of our health service – they were prime examples of what the HSE could achieve if sustained investment was matched by political will.
“Patient outcomes greatly improve when the focus is placed firmly on the delivery of the Cancer Strategy, however, this focus has slipped, and, as a result, patients are suffering.
“When the current Cancer Strategy was launched in 2017, the then Minister for Health Simon Harris promised substantial current and capital funding over the ten years of the strategy.
“The reality is, however, that the Cancer Strategy only received funding in three of the last eight budgets – it’s therefore no wonder that the quality of treatment is degrading.
“Cancer services must be properly funded in Budget 2026 to address the serious issues in staffing and infrastructure identified by the Irish Cancer Society – the rot must be stopped before patient care and outcomes plummet further.
“Crucially, the Minister for Health must make the case to the Minister for Public Expenditure for the urgent need for capital investment in cancer care infrastructure, equipment and digital health.
“Ireland lags far behind other European countries when it comes to our overall healthcare infrastructure levels – and this has a direct impact on waiting times.
“The impact of these infrastructure deficits can be seen across cancer services, such as urgent colonoscopies. No person should wait longer than 4 weeks for their urgent colonoscopy. However, in 2024, between 2,513 and 2,800 people waited longer than recommended.
“The Irish Cancer Society has also revealed that the HSE is being forced to use 17-year-old radiotherapy equipment, seven years past its sell-by date.
“The ballooning spend on outsourcing is also deeply concerning, and indeed unsustainable. We know that almost €23 million was spent on outsourcing radiotherapy services to private providers last year due to staff shortages. As a result, public radiotherapy machines and CT scanners are lying idle.
“Implementation of the National Cancer Strategy has simply not been a priority for successive Ministers for Health – there’s been a lot of talk, but very little delivery, and this must change.
“The current National Cancer Strategy ends in 2026, and it seems that very little work has been carried out to plan for its replacement – in May, the Minister said an evaluation would be carried out later this year.
“That evaluation should already be underway – developing a new and improved cancer strategy must be a priority.”
July 9th, 2025