Delay in treatment for Leitrim cancer patient raised in Dáil

A Leitrim cancer patient’s story was highlighted in the Dáil following a Sinn Féin motion on cancer services that called for a new cancer strategy.

Issues raised in the motion by David Cullinane about cancer care in Ireland included staffing shortages, timely access to treatment, outdated machinery, and the need to reduce the cost of cancer care for patients.

A local man’s case was raised during the discussion of the motion by Martin Kenny, who spoke about delays affecting patients waiting for cancer treatment.

“He was waiting for radiotherapy and contacted the hospital in Galway, which he has to travel to all the way from Leitrim, and was told he was on a waiting list,” Deputy Kenny told the Dáil.

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“After several weeks of my office trying to deal with the HSE, he was finally able to move ahead with his treatment but he and his family were extremely stressed because his brother had previously passed away from the same type of cancer he had been diagnosed with,” he added, noting that many people find themselves in that situation.

“I know from talking to my colleagues that many people across every constituency are experiencing the very same thing. There are delays and there is difficulty in accessing treatment and in getting diagnostics,” Deputy Kenny continued.

“When we talk to the clinicians and the hospitals, they tell us that staffing, medical equipment and facilities are all problems. All of these things need to be dealt with.

"While the Government's countermotion may suggest it is going to produce the answers, we are very doubtful it will,” he concluded.

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