Move to centralise cancer care ‘should be reversed’

CAMPAIGNERS seeking radiotherapy services for the south-east have called on the Government to reverse its decision to centralise cancer care after an expert report recommended regional centres be provided.

Waterford-based group Cancer Care Alliance (CCA) described as worrying the fact that the Government had rejected the recommendations of the Irish Society of Medical Oncologists (ISMO), who last year called for eight cancer centres: four in Dublin and one each in Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick.

“This was a document from ISMO - the people who direct cancer care - and it appears it was suppressed to facilitate the Hollywood plan,” said Jane Bailey of CCA.