State not public to blame for cancer fiasco

IT is disgraceful that Health Minister Mary Harney and Health Service Executive chief Brendan Drumm are blaming cancer groups’ opposition to change for the closure of local cancer care services (November 5).

A major reason why the cancer strategy is being delayed is because Ms Harney is pursuing the public-private route in providing new cancer facilities.

The Government’s failure to provide the extra services required by population growth and an increase in cancer rates has also left us with an understaffed and over-worked health system.