Hospital appoints permanent breast surgeon

A permanent breast surgeon is to be appointed to a Donegal hospital in a bid to bring better cancer services to the county.

Health service bosses made the decision to improve breast care services in Letterkenny General Hospital after a number of protests were held.

Denise Brown, a survivor of breast cancer, said it had meant everything to her to be treated in nearby Letterkenny.

“Because as a mother, of age 31, with two very small children I was able to go get my treatment and have family come visit me when I was in hospital,” she said.

“Remember when you are in the middle of treatment you are at your most vulnerable, it is the time when you need your family most, you don’t need to be going away from your family. You need support around you, and I was lucky I had that in Donegal.”

Last year, in a bid to improve services Donegal Action for Cancer Care group had brought its campaign for the retention of cancer treatment services in Letterkenny to Health Minister Mary Harney.

Earlier this month, the medical board at Letterkenny General Hospital said it had to stop seeing new breast cancer patients due to the hospital’s lack of a permanent breast surgeon.

The hospital said it had been appealing to the HSE to make an appointment for some time.

Under the new plans the Donegal hospital’s service will be merged with the Regional Breast Care Unit at Galway Regional Hospitals to ensure a managed clinical network.

The network will allow for the service in Letterkenny to be maintained and developed along with the objective of the National Cancer Control Strategy.

A statement from the Health Service Executive (HSE) said: “It is intended to appoint a permanent surgeon with a special interest in breast surgery who will be primarily based as lead surgeon for services at Letterkenny General Hospital.”

Ms Brown, who said she was delighted with the announcement, told RTE Radio: “We have to move forward with the times, not move backwards so I am delighted with the way it is today so long as it looks after the women in Donegal first and foremost.”

The breast cancer survivor said all patients’ treatments, including aftercare, should be given in their own county.

“I had to go to St Luke’s Hospital in Dublin for six weeks’ treatment and I mean that was the hardest time for me, I had to leave two children crying on a Monday morning, come back on a Friday evening and make the most of that weekend to try and make it up to them for being away for a week.”