Ahern accused of betraying patients

OPPOSITION leaders last night accused the Taoiseach of betraying cancer patients as the row over the Portlaoise misdiagnosis scandal dominated the Dáil.

Labour’s Eamon Gilmore tore into Bertie Ahern over what he said were unacceptable delays in improving cancer treatment.

The Taoiseach indicated a “systems failure” was not the reason for the problems exposed at Portlaoise as he insisted the Government was committed to creating a “world class” service for cancer victims. Mr Gilmore said cancer specialists were concerned at delays in creating centres of excellence.

“We have been asked to accept that things will improve when centres of excellence are established and that they are the answer to all of this. The problem is that centres of excellence were recommended seven years ago in the O’Higgins report and it still has not happened. According to the Minister for Health and Children it will happen by 2009. According to Mr O’Brien, who is in charge of the strategy, it will not happen for a further three years after that and it will be well into 2012 or 2013 before they are established.

“Cancer treatment and services have been dogged by delay over recent years and the Taoiseach has presided over it.

“BreastCheck was to have rolled out completely by 2003. It is still not completed,” Mr Gilmore said.

Mr Ahern insisted the Government had invested heavily into cancer services.