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Double blow for NW cancer campaign
04.07.08
CANCER services for the
North West received a double blow this week.
Firstly, Professor Tom Keane, the man tasked with
implementing Ireland's cancer strategy, indicated in
a radio interview that it could be difficult to
retain staff in a centre of excellence north of the
Galway-Dublin line.
A day later in the Seanad, a Fine Gael/Labour motion
calling for the retention of cancer care services on
existing sites and the immediate provision of a
satellite unit at Letterkenny General Hospital, was
defeated by the Government. |
Speaking following
Prof. Keane's interview on RTE Radio One, MEP Marian
Harkin hit out at his equating the North West region
with remote parts of northern Canada where he
previously worked. Prof. Keane also referred to the
cross-border model - where Donegal women would
receive treatment at Altnagelvin in Derry - as the
solution to Donegal's service provision.
“Professor Keane should not attempt to equate
Donegal with British Columbia as if their
populations were similar and the distance to cancer
treatment centres |
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likely to attract and
retain staff in anything like the same league," said
Ms. Harkin.
She described as Government "discrimination" in
cancer services the fact that Breastcheck, which was
promised to women in the North West in 2001, 2003,
2005 and, finally, Autumn 2007, will not now reach
all parts of the country until March 2010.
"This situation means that if the diagnostic
facilities closed in Sligo General Hospital at the
end of the current year, women in Sligo and Donegal
would have no access whatsoever to breast
screening," she said.
“I accept that Professor Keane is only implementing
Government policy but in supporting it he should
only make valid comparisons between Ireland and
Canada and acknowledge that the best outcome for
cancer patients is connected to the level of stress
involved for them in the entire diagnostic, surgical
and recovery elements of their trauma," she added.
Meanwhile, following the defeat of the FG/Labour
motion that was also supported by Sinn Féin Senator
Pearse Doherty, Health Minister Mary Harney told the
Seanad the current Irish cancer strategy was the
best available for women in the North West. |
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