Top cancer doctor quits over lack of resources

A top cancer surgeon is to leave his post next month, claiming he no longer has the resources to take care of his patients.

Kevin Moran, a urologist and general surgeon at Letterkenny General Hospital, tendered his resignation to hospital authorities after 24 years in the post.

“I have taken the decision to resign as I don’t have the resources to take care of my patients any more,” he said.

“I don’t have access to beds, I don’t have adequate access to operating theatres and I can’t recruit and retain the junior staff and support staff that I need.”

Mr Moran is worried about how his workload will be passed on to a colleague when he leaves next month.

“I’ve 425 men with prostate cancers and 160 men and women with bladder cancers that need to be followed up,” he said.

The ever-growing waiting lists are also a concern. He said: “The wait for a routine appointment is two years, two months; for an urgent appointment it’s one year and four months, while the recall backlog is two years.”

The HSE has confirmed a locum surgeon has been appointed on a short-term basis to replace Mr Moran.

The Saolta University Health Care Group says it will be working with the Consultants Appointments Advisory Committee public appointments unit and the National Recruitment Service to appoint a permanent replacement.