Health board furious at being passed over for cancer facilities
The South Eastern Health Board is bitterly disappointed that much-needed radiotherapy services planned for Waterford Regional Hospital were not recommended by experts who drafted the report.
It means that cancer sufferers from across the south-east have to travel either to Dublin or Cork for the therapy they need.
The SEHB made a detailed submission to the Expert Group based on need, equity, quality, patient focus and value for money and it focused on the need to establish a radiotherapy department as part of the development of a comprehensive cancer treatment service in the south-east.
The chairman of the board, Cllr Séamus Ryan has requested that the South Eastern Health Board host a special meeting this afternoon in Clonmel, so that the report can be discussed in full.
“What is not being looked at in this report by the expert group is the individual suffering of patients and their families as they try to access a service which is vital and necessary,” the Waterford councillor said.
“This is particularly bad for the people of the south-east. But the campaign does not end here. As far as I am concerned, as chairman of the South Eastern Health Board, we must continue to lobby and we must continue to put pressure on our government representatives in Waterford and the south east.”
Waterford TD John Deasy (FG) said the people of the south-east have been ignored. And he said that government politicians were now adding insult to injury by trying to fob the public off about the possible development of a satellite treatment centre in Waterford.
He accused locally-based Environment Minister Martin Cullen of forgetting his electorate and the foundations on which he was elected.
Deputy Brian O’Shea (Labour) said that cancer sufferers would continue to have to endure the “cruel and inhumane” return trips to Dublin or Cork for treatment at a time when they need to be looked after most in their own community.
Senator Maurice Cummins accused the Fianna Fáil party in particular of using the people as pawns to further the political profile of individuals within the party. He wants those who made pre-election promises to deliver on them, or resign.
