Protest over cancer services' withdrawal

Hundreds of protesters are to picket the Dáil today over controversial plans to abolish vital cancer services in the north-west.

Sligo General Hospital is to be downgraded and locked out of the radical centre of excellence programme for treating patients.

Several hundred people from Sligo, Leitrim and South Donegal are expected to attend the rally.

The Health Service Executive and Government are under increasing pressure over the plan and failures to provide adequate care in several major hospitals.

It plans eight centres of excellence by the end of 2009 but Sligo is not one of them.

Patients in south Donegal, Mayo and Leitrim will have to travel to Galway for vital treatment.

Jimmy Devins, Minister of State at the Department of Health and Sligo/Leitrim TD, has gone against Government policy and opposes the plan to freeze out Sligo.

Cancer patient and campaigner Lily McMorrow from Coollaney, Co Sligo, said the north-west was being ignored.

“It is very disappointing that the HSE/Government have chosen to ignore the north-west once again,” she said.

“We have excellent services at Sligo General Hospital with an already established excellent service under Dr Tim O’Hanrahan and we are determined that our cancer treatment services will be retained at Sligo Hospital.”

The protest will be attended by councillors from Sligo and Donegal.

Imelda Henry, Fine Gael Sligo county councillor, said: “Hundreds of cancer patients residing in the north-west will face a four to five hour round trip for treatment in Galway.

“It has to be condemned and you have to ask where is the logic in this decision-making.”