Women need better care

THE breakdown of vital equipment for fighting breast cancer on a regional basis is a damning indictment of Ireland’s failure to tackle this deadly illness.

After Denmark and the Netherlands, we have the third highest death rate from cancer in the EU. However, as emphasised by campaigners, early diagnosis and treatment in specialist multi-disciplinary clinics would cut mortality rates by 20%.

Women can be forgiven for feeling angry over the indefinite cancellation of screening at University College Hospital in Galway where a mammogram machine has broken down. In the interests of public health, it is crucial for this vital service to be restored without delay.