§ 1. Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton, North)What proposals he has for improvement in provision for cancer treatment in the health service in Northern Ireland. [98764]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. George Howarth)I am pleased to say that work on the development of five cancer units and regional cancer centres is under way. In addition, the international memorandum of understanding between Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the National Cancer Institute in Washington, which was signed in October, will lead to joint research and clinical trials.
§ Ms KeebleI thank my hon. Friend for that answer. What steps is he taking to increase prevention of cancer, particularly given the higher mortality rates for women with cancer in Northern Ireland? In particular, what is he doing to address the needs of such women?
§ Mr. HowarthSignificant progress has already been made in meeting the cancer targets for lung cancer in men 600 and for breast cancer and cervical cancer that were set out in the Department's regional strategy. For example, the incidence of cervical cancer in women aged over 20 has fallen by 20 per cent. since 1989 and the death rate from breast cancer among women under 70 has fallen by 22 per cent. since 1990. However, we are not complacent. We recognise that more needs to be done and, especially through public health campaigns, we hope to make even better progress in future.
§ Mr. Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire)Cancer kills more people in the Province every year than have been killed in the troubles in the past 30 years. We share the Ulster Cancer Foundation's concern that the remit of the national cancer director, Professor Mike Richards, applies only to England and Wales. Will the Minister consider extending that remit to Northern Ireland, or is another appointment planned? How much of the £80 million that has been allocated for cancer prevention will go to the Province?
§ Mr. HowarthThere are no plans to appoint a cancer director in Northern Ireland. However, my Department will keep in close touch with initiatives to improve cancer services in England and Wales. We are certainly always willing to learn lessons from experience elsewhere.
Significant additional resources will be provided next year to implement further the recommendations of the Campbell report. On implementation, we expect the report to reduce the number of deaths by 20 per cent., and the new opportunities fund is providing a further £6.75 million for cancer treatment and services.
§ Rev. Martin Smyth (Belfast, South)We appreciate the developments, but are any plans being made to improve the day-service facilities for chemotherapy and quality testing at Belfast City hospital? Quality testing is required to achieve good outcomes. Will more nurses be trained and recruited for cancer care?
§ Mr. HowarthIn respect of the particular hospital that the hon. Gentleman mentioned, he will know that considerable consultation has taken place about hospital services and acute hospital services. Within that, we shall consider how and where services are distributed. The same point applies to testing. Obviously, there are places where that needs to be done. One matter that we are considering is whether we can obtain good and accurate information when review appointments may be carried out in different places and through telemedicine links.
The hon. Gentleman will be aware that I am very supportive of more high-level training for nurses. That applies equally to cancer and other services. Nurses have a bigger role to play, and it is one that we wish to encourage.
§ Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham)I warmly congratulate the Minister on his new appointment and wish him well in his responsibilities.
Does the hon. Gentleman stand by the pledge made in a ministerial letter from the Department of Health to Dr. John Chisholm of the British Medical Association, stating that patients will continue to receive the investigations, drugs and treatments that they need? 601 If he does, will he take the opportunity to confirm that, wherever a drug is judged to be clinically appropriate, it will invariably be prescribed?
§ Mr. HowarthA great deal of advice is taken about, and given on, prescribing. When certain prescribing is deemed to be appropriate and all the advice suggests that it is an appropriate procedure, the Department of Health in England and Wales, no less than in Northern Ireland, take that advice seriously. The undertaking that the hon. Gentleman seeks is implicit in everything that we do.