€2m in funding needed to extend lauded nurse helpline for cancer patients 

Mary Gardiner, from Bishopstown living in Tralee, said without her oncology nurse in Tralee, it would have been a much harder and more negative experience

Some €2m is urgently needed to increase access to a nursing helpline answering cancer patients’ queries at home instead of relying on emergency departments, the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) said.

One cancer patient in Tralee described the nurse there as “an angel without wings”, while data shows almost one in three patients who contact the service can be safely helped remotely.

Terry Hanan, national clinical lead for cancer nursing, said this started during the pandemic.

“It’s for patients who present with complications of their cancer treatment or their cancer. Before this service, if you had a problem, you went directly to ED,” she said.

The helpline runs 8am to 4pm on weekdays, but she said 24/7 coverage is needed.

Data provided by the NCCP shows in one month this year, 1,375 patients were triaged by the Acute Oncology Nursing Service.

Some 32% managed their query at home with advice from a nurse, while 36% were supported and given a follow-up call. Only 31% of patients did need to urgently attend hospital.

Currently, there are 29 nurses funded across 26 HSE hospitals, which is a patient equity issue, she said.

“The requirement is for 23 clinical nurse specialists meaning there will be two specialist nurses in each hospital, four admin staff and an audit manager for the National Ambulance Service to support the out of hours service,” she said.

“The cost is circa €2.4m.” 

Mary Gardiner was successfully treated for breast cancer in Cork University Hospital and University Hospital Kerry, and has just this month returned to work as a garda in Tralee.

She relied closely on her nurse in University Hospital Kerry saying: “I’d describe her as an angel without wings.

She was very knowledgeable, you could put your trust in her. She made my journey so much better than it could have been.

She recalled the nurse even phoning the pharmacy to double-check medication orders.

“It is very daunting when you are diagnosed with cancer, you are questioning everything — is this normal, what can I do,” she said.

Mary Holden, also a breast cancer patient, said the service should be renamed “keep the patient out of the ED service”.

Living in Dublin, she is moving to Donegal after retirement, and hopes for the same access to supports.

“It should be the same for every patient, there should be no difference between the care in one part of the country and the other,” she said. 

“The fact I’m attending one of the big centres in Dublin should not mean I get a better quality of service.” 

The Irish Cancer Society raised concerns following the budget earlier this month about the lack of clarity around funding for the cancer strategy nationally.