Increased cancer treatment thresholds ‘will cost patients’ lives’

PEOPLE will die as a direct result of the Government increasing the minimum population threshold needed to qualify for radiotherapy services, it was claimed last night.

Under the national cancer strategy the minimum number of people needed for a cancer unit was 420,000. However, that has now been increased to 650,000.

Fine Gael senator Maurice Cummins has accused the Government of raising the bar on radiotherapy provision for Waterford.