Hospital officials sound warning over ‘patient capping’ plans

SENIOR officials at Cork University Hospital have raised concerns that the facility’s oncology service could be put under severe pressure if any cap on the number of oncology outpatients seen at Mercy University Hospital is introduced.

Due to financial constraints being imposed on the system, the latest CUH board meeting minutes noted that a series of initiatives are being considered in Cork in an attempt to bring down oncology drug expenses in the region.

The potential plans include an audit of oncology drug use — which has increased in cost by 50% since 2005, in Cork, the centralisation of a pharmacy service in the city centre, and the possible capping of the number of outpatients seen at Mercy University Hospital’s oncology unit.