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.