Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has called on the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to agree to requests from the Network of Community Cancer Support Centres across the state, including Purple House in Wicklow, for the provision of core funding of €5.5 million on an annual basis to support the vital work they undertake with cancer patients.
For over 30 years Community Cancer Support Centres (CCSCs) have been providing essential services and supports nationwide to cancer patients, their families, and carers, who are living with and beyond cancer.
Currently each centre mainly relies on individually fundraised income to support its services. Access to sustainable funding is a major ongoing concern in the face of sustained demand.
The National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 has identified the network as one of the key services for cancer patients and their families in terms of psychological, emotional and practical support.
Brady said:
“The Community Cancer Support Services, including our own Purple House here in Bray provide a vital service to cancer patients and their families and carers.
The sheer volume of work carried out by Purple House is indicative of its critical role in the lives of cancer patients and their families.
Figures released for 2022 reveal 330 hospital trips undertaken with patients, 351 drop-ins to Purple House by patients, there were just under 5,000 classes and programmes provided, 971 counselling sessions, just under five and half thousand telephone support calls. In total over 1,500 families were helped.
Other supports include a bereavement group, men’s group, children’s, and adolescents’ group along with sensory and creative supports for children. The inclusion of a cancer rehabilitative gym and nutritional support are very important in the lives of patients.
And with the numbers of cancer cases rising, demand increases all the time.
They have been identified as an essential element of the state’s National Cancer Strategy. Yet, they are forced to source private funding in order to fulfil their role within our communities.
This is unfair, unjust, and unacceptable.
Minister Stephen Donnelly has a moral and professional obligation to ensure that the Community Cancer Support Servicesnetwork receive the core funding it requires to continue to provide the care and service which it does to cancer patients.
Last year alone, in 2023, 12,500 individuals accessed the network’s services, a 16% increase on 2023. This was reflected in a 20% increase in attendances at individual and group services up to 97,500.
With the number of cancer cases set to double by 2045, the role of the network will continue to increase in importance.
It is not acceptable that the state sits back and leaves this essential element of its own national cancer strategy to fend for itself.
Minister Donnelly, and his colleagues in government need to step up to the mark and ensure that the necessary core funding is delivered, to allow support centres such as Purple House to continue with their role in our community.”