Cancer units get green light after letter outcry
The letter exposed the dismal state of services in the southern area.
The letter by Dr Seamus O’Reilly, a Cork-based consultant medical oncologist, was obtained by the Irish Examiner and printed on Monday.
Sent to Tánaiste Mary Harney, it highlighted his frustration at the underfunding of cancer services, which has led to the resignation of three consultants.
The lone medical consultant in cancer for 500,000 people, Dr O’Reilly said cancer patients were forced to suffer pain at home because they could not access hospital beds.
He also said patients were placed in inappropriate wards because of the lack of a specialist unit.
In addition, the failure to roll out BreastCheck in Cork and Kerry meant cancers were diagnosed later.
During angry exchanges in the Dáil yesterday, during which Cork TDs Bernard Allen and Kathleen Lynch were asked to leave after being found in “gross disorder”, Mr Ahern confirmed the go-ahead had been given for a e47 million oncology, cardiac and renal centre at Cork University Hospital (CUH), with construction to commence in mid-2006.
He added a specialist 10-bed medical oncology ward would also be set up.
CUH general manager Tony McNamara told the Irish Examiner last night the Health Service Executive (HSE) would advertise tenders for the unit in newspapers today. He said a 10-bed oncology ward would be in place within a month.
Mr McNamara said four nurses were being recruited, with five more to be deployed from other sectors.
Both facilities have been long-awaited.
The HSE said the decision to approve the facilities was taken in the past two weeks. Dr O’Reilly sent his letter three weeks ago.
Mr McNamara also said yesterday that the unfilled consultant position would be re-advertised shortly.
Mr Ahern came under sustained criticism during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil, which was suspended three times during the scenes of disorder.
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