Regional Advisory Committee on Cancer - Report on Skin Cancer (September 2004) (PDF 201 KB)

Skin cancer is the diagnosis for about a quarter of all patients with cancer and because most of the work is done on an outpatient basis the true extent of the disease has largely gone unrecognised. Skin cancers are related to ultraviolet radiation exposure. Geographic latitude as well as attitude affects the amount of ultraviolet exposure and the risk of skin cancer, with people from Northern Ireland exposing themselves to higher levels of ultraviolet radiation when on holiday abroad and artificially from sunbeds. Ozone depletion is known to increase the risk of ultraviolet exposure and skin cancer. The majority of people living in Northern Ireland have pale skin and are at increased risk of developing skin cancer, as are some patients with an increased genetic risk for cancer. Some pre-existing skin lesions are known to increase the risk of developing skin cancer. Data collection on the incidence of non melanoma skin cancer in Northern Ireland was not available before the establishment of the Cancer Registry in 1993. There is however good data on the incidence of melanoma before that period. In 1974 there were 39 cases in melanoma in Northern Ireland, by 2000 this had risen by almost 500% to 185 cases. åÊ

Children Order Advisory Committee: Delay in Children Order Cases

Children Order Advisory Committee: Delay in Children Order Cases

Research Ethics Committee Activity in Northern Ireland (PDF 23 KB)

Research Ethics Committee Activity in Northern Ireland

Regional Advisory Committee on Cancer - Second Report 2002 (PDF 132 KB)

Regional Advisory Committee on Cancer (RACC) was established in 1997 to carry forward the recommendations of the Campbell Report of 1996 and to provide advice to the Department of Health and Social Services on the future development of cancer services. The Committee meets twice a year and its membership (Appendix I) is an indication of the wide range of interests involved in Cancer Care across the community. This report records some of the key developments in cancer services over the last 3 years. åÊ Significant progress has been made toward developing a high quality and integrated cancer care network. All five Cancer Units are now operational with chemotherapy and outpatient services for the most common forms of cancer are delivered from these locations. Agreement to the start of the new Cancer Centre, at the Belfast City Hospital, currently estimated to cost å£58m, is expected shortly. As a temporary expedient two additional therapy machines will be installed in Belvoir Park Hospital to increase capacity while the building of the new Cancer Centre proceeds. åÊ To deliver high quality cancer care the workforce needs to continue to expand. This requires increasing investment in the training of professional staff in the context of an already difficult HPSS labour market. The development of the five Cancer Units has increased staff mobility in the short-term, drawing skilled staff away from the centre who have been difficult to replace. At the same time increasing numbers of patients are being offered effective therapies at both the Cancer Units and the Centre. åÊ This report contains a review of selected developments in cancer care. The first section introduces the Memorandum of Understanding and the Tripartite Agreement between the National Cancer Institute of the USA and the Health Departments both North and South. This is a unique international partnership, which promises to bring very significant advantages to both the service and research communities across the Island. åÊ åÊ åÊ

Regional Advisory Committee on Cancer - First Report 1999 (PDF 73 KB)

The Regional Advisory Committee on Cancer Services (RACC) was established in 1997. Its purpose is to advise the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Campbell Report Cancer Services: Investing for the Future and on the development and delivery of cancer services in Northern Ireland. The remit and functions of RACC are set out in Annex 1. The 28 members of RACC come from the Health and Social Services Councils (which represent the interests of the public), primary care, Trusts, Boards and the DHSS. The Chief Medical Officer attends as an observer. The full membership of the committee is listed in Annex 2. 1.3 RACC held its first meeting in June 1997 and has continued to meet twice a year since then. This is its first report. åÊ åÊ

Report of the National Physical and Sensory Disability Database Development Committee

The need for information on the health service needs of people with physical and/or sensory disabilities was first highlighted in Shaping a Healthier Future, a document which outlined the national strategy for effective healthcare in the 1990s. This strategy document identified the establishment of a national database as the means of gathering such information Download the Report here

Report of the National Advisory Committee on Palliative Care

Over thirty years ago, Prof. John Hinton voiced his criticisms of the standard of medical care offered to patients with advanced and life-threatening conditions. In the decades that followed, we have witnessed a remarkable renaissance in terms of our understanding of the needs of patients in the final stages of life. Developments in therapeutics and in our knowledge of pain and symptom management have spearheaded a quiet but very effective revolution. In parallel with developments in medical science, we have developed a much deeper understanding of the complex psychosocial and spiritual needs of patients and their families, as they seek to cope with the pain and suffering associated with progressive and inevitable loss Download the Report here

Report of the National Advisory Committee on Palliative Care

Report of the National Advisory Committee on Palliative Care It is anticipated that the need for palliative care services will increase in coming years. Population projections indicate that between 1996 and 2031 the population aged 65 years and over is expected to more than double. Currently, over 95% of all patients availing of palliative care services suffer from cancer. The number of people dying from cancer is expected to rise in future years, due to the ageing population. Click here to download the document (PDF, 1mb)

Report of the National Joint Steering Group on the Working Hours of Non Consultant Hospital Doctors

The introduction of a maximum 48 hour working week for Non Consultant Hospital Doctors by 2010 will have significant implications for both Doctors in training and service delivery in our hospitals. This report focuses on how this reduction in working hours can be achieved and the many directly related issues that need to be addressed Download the Report here

Report of the Benzodiazepine Committee

This comprehensive Report, which marks the fruition of extensive work and consultations undertaken by the Benzodiazepine Committee represents a major step towards addressing inappropriate benzodiazepine use in this country. It sets out in some detail the facts about benzodiazepine usage in Ireland and makes recommendations across a number of areas. It also includes Good Practice Guidelines to assist clinicians in adopting best practice in what is a complex and difficult area.   Download document here