Children with cancer turned away from hospital

CHILDREN in need of chemotherapy have been turned away from Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children because of bed and staff shortages.

The Crumlin hospital, which is the national referral centre for the most serious childhood conditions, has had to turn away up to six children a week on occasions.

Director of Haematology and Oncology at the hospital, Dr Fin Breatnach said there was evidence to show delaying chemotherapy affected the treatment outcome.