Cancer patients face transport ordeal on way for treatment

CANCER patients in the south-east travelling to Dublin for radiotherapy treatment have the worst transport options in the country.

While taxis and ambulances are laid on for patients in other parts of the country, patients in the south-east are expected to make their own way to the nearest hospital before travelling on by minibus to Dublin for treatment.

Information provided by the former South Eastern Health Board (SEHB) in August 2004 to the National Radiation Oncology Co-ordinating Group (NROCG) which looked at transport systems for cancer patients, admitted that unlike other health boards, there was no structured dedicated system. Arrangements were “ad-hoc”, the SEHB said.

“Efforts are made to accommodate patients using a range of options but public transport timetables are not particularly suitable for hospital clinic appointments. Often patients travel with their family in a private car,” the SEHB said in relation to transport for patients living in Waterford. In Wexford, a minibus leaves Wexford General Hospital for Dublin at 8am each day, but patients must make their own way to Wexford General. This is in sharp contrast to patients living in Dublin and receiving radiotherapy treatment at St Luke’s Hospital, where patients are collected and returned by ambulance to their own homes in the north and south of the city. Taxis also collect, transport and return patients to train stations, bus terminals and private residences.

In Kilkenny, a minibus leaves for St Luke’s at 7.30am and will only collect patients in exceptional circumstances. The SEHB submission to the NROCG said many patients depended on two local cancer charities to help them out with travel costs: “Patients receive some financial support from the local cancer society and the South Eastern Cancer Foundation towards transport costs if they are arranging it themselves.”

Moreover, it said the board encouraged this method of transport “because of the flexibility and quality for the patient and the economical cost”.

South East Cancer Foundation spokesperson Jane Bailey said while they were able to help out some patients, they were not in a position to help them all.

“Ms Harney has repeatedly said the HSE has significant dedicated transport arrangements in place for radiotherapy patients. Where are they in the south-east?” Ms Harney has referred to the HSE’s dedicated transport arrangements for cancer patients in a number of replies to parliamentary questions. However, the south-east does not have a dedicated system. A spokesperson for the HSE South East said they cover the cost of transport for medical card holders. NCORG, which looked at transport available to cancer patients in need of radiotherapy, has decided not to report on what each health board area should offer.