Cancer patients urged to call triage helplines to avoid A&E over Christmas

Stephanie Creedon, who works in the  acute haematology oncology service (AHOS) for cancer patients at the Mercy University Hospital, said patients on chemotherapy can call anytime with questions about treatment or their cancer. Picture: Dan Linehan

Cancer patients have been urged to call dedicated triage helplines over Christmas at hospitals around the country to avoid busy emergency departments.

The phonelines were set up during the pandemic, and the system has now been expanded to include two nurses per service across 26 hospitals.