CAMPAIGNERS and
cross-party politicians are stepping up the pressure
to safeguard cancer services for patients in the
North West.
Co-operating for Cancer Care NorthWest welcomed
comments made by Dr Susan O’Reilly, CEO, National
Cancer Control Programme, during her recent visit to
Letterkenny General Hospital. Dr O'Reilly expressed
confidence in the "excellent standard of symptomatic
breast services delivered at the hospital", said
CCCNW.
Spokesperson Noelle Duddy said: “CCC(NW) hopes that
both (Dr O'Reilly's) comments and those of Sean
Murphy, general manager, made during her visit to
the hospital, will serve to curb and put an end to
any further speculation that Letterkenny General
Hospital's symptomatic breast services are under
threat.”
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin has urged the new Health
Minister, Dr James Reilly to make the provision of
cancer services at Altnagelvin one of his first
priorities in office.
Newly-elected Donegal North East TD Pádraig
MacLochlainn and Assembly member Martina Anderson
have written to the minister asking him to guarantee
the funding for the Altnagelvin radiotherapy unit.
“Sinn Féin’s success in the general election puts us
in a stronger position to lobby for key north-south
projects such as the cancer unit at Altnagelvin
which has long been a priority for both of Sinn
Féin’s new Donegal TDs,” said Ms Anderson.
“The previous Dublin government had committed
funding for the construction and ongoing running
costs of this facility. Pádraig MacLochlainn and I
have now written to the new Minister Dr James Reilly
to ensure that commitment is honoured."
The Breast Centre North West at Letterkenny General
Hospital, under the direction of consultant surgeon,
Mr Michael Sugrue, opened just over two years ago at
a cost of over €300,000.
CCCNW members Ms Duddy and George Friel lobbied the
new Taoiseach, Enda Kenny on the eve of the general
election when he visited Donegal.
"At Burt he pledged that he fully supports
Letterkenny’s provision of symptomatic breast
services and the provision of the proposed cross
border radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin," said Ms
Duddy. |
