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Donegal Action for
Cancer Care (DACC) has warned that patients in the
county could be denied breast cancer services for a
number of weeks over the summer.
This follows confirmation that the temporary breast
surgeon currently working at Letterkenny General
Hospital has accepted an offer of a permanent
contract elsewhere.
DACC co-chair, Lynn McDevitt blamed his departure on
Health Service Executive (HSE) delays in the
appointment process for a permanent post.
"The interviews haven't even started yet for the
permanent position. DACC were told last June that
these interviews were starting. We were told again
at Christmas that the interviews were starting," she
said.
"If those interviews had started last June or
Christmas, the temporary breast surgeon would not be
leaving. He was offered a permanent position in
Portlaoise, Co. Laois, and was given so long to make
up his mind. He had to make a decision," she added.
Responding to fears the county would be left without
breast surgery cover, the HSE yesterday said it
would immediately advertise for a locum breast
surgeon to bridge the gap. It also confirmed it
would advertise the permanent consultant breast
surgeon post in June.
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