Cancer treatment services urgently needed

TDs at the Cancer Care Alliance news conference

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has criticised the appallingly poor provision of cancer treatment services in Ireland. Speaking at a Cancer Care Alliance Press Conference in Dublin on Tuesday, which brought together health spokespersons from the main opposition parties in the Dáil in response to the report of the Expert Group on Radiation Oncology Services in Ireland, he said government "should hang their heads in shame" over the failure to provide adequate cancer treatment services across the island of Ireland.

"A quarter of all deaths are caused by cancer and 50% to 60% of cancer patients require radiation therapy, yet the service here falls down in both quantity and quality," he said. "There is what the Report calls "a profound deficit". We have the lowest number of consultant radiation oncologists in Western Europe. Availability and use of radiation therapy is significantly lower than EU and North American averages.

"We have seen the welcome extension of the Breastcheck initiative for women but if radiation oncology services are not put in place, much of that work will be in vain because the treatments will not be available for those diagnosed with breast cancer.

"We need equality of access to these vital services, both in economic terms and in geographic terms. Three centres in Dublin, Cork and Galway are not enough and not acceptable. Very ill patients from the Northwest, from South Ulster — which I represent — and from the Southeast will have to travel long distances. Huge swathes of the country will be unserviced. That must be put right.

"The report speaks of special transport solutions and hotel/hostel accommodation for those who must travel. We have seen no such proposals from Government. Meanwhile, we have totally inadequate public transport and ambulance services.

"We need an all-Ireland approach, which the Hollywood Report does not adopt. All the resources on the island of Ireland need to be taken into account and cross-border solutions included in plans for expansion of services. It is time to put the dreadful health services associated with the 1980s behind us and provide adequate and efficient treatment services for all those in dire need of it."