Kerry cancer patients to get travel expenses

KERRY cancer patients who have to travel to Cork University Hospital (CUH) for surgery and treatment are to be given assistance with transport costs.

Health Minister Mary Harney has confirmed that a special €750,000 funding package will be given to the Irish Cancer Society for transport while the Health Service Executive (HSE) will also provide transport for patients.

Under the National Cancer Strategy, initial diagnosis of breast cancer and surgery for Kerry women will be carried out at CUH — a designated centre of excellence.

Such services are due to be transferred from Kerry General Hospital (KGH), Tralee, later this year.

More than 50 breast surgical procedures were carried out at KGH last year.

Representatives of Kerry-based groups, who had been campaigning for the retention of all cancer services at KGH, raised transport and other issues at a meeting with Ms Harney last week.

They highlighted difficulties that could be posed for patients from parts of Kerry which are a two to three hour drive from Cork and possible hardship and trauma that could result.

Ms Harney said she wanted to ensure the most modern transport and equipment would be in place as part of the national cancer plan.

There are also plans to build a hostel near CUH for people who don’t need to stay in hospital, but who are unable to travel to and from their homes for services each day.

Groups such as Woman 2000, Kerry ICA and the West Kerry Action Group also got an assurance from Ms Harney that equipment in KGH, which had been provided through voluntary subscriptions, would remain in KGH.

Organisations in Kerry have raised more than e1 million for cancer treatment facilities at KGH, according to Woman 2000.

On July 10, a petition with the signatures of more than 20,000 people, calling for the retention of cancer services in Tralee, was handed in to Ms Harney’s office.