A Galway senator has spoken of her shock and devastation that the oncology assessment centre which was opened at UHG in August is not yet a centre of excellence.
While discussing the Health Miscellaneous Provisions Bill in the Seanad on Tuesday Fine Gael senator Fidelma Healy Eames said that the new oncology assessment centre was good news for cancer patients, however, “the overall cancer centre has a way to go yet before it is a centre of excellence in practice”.
“I am shocked and devastated to think that our designated centre in Galway is not yet a centre of excellence. It is in name, but it is very much in transition and still learning how to cope. I have spoken to people in the centre such as Professor Kerin who told me that dedicated beds were needed in one central place.”
The senator also discused the shocking case of Mary Henehan (65 ) from Ballinderren, Co Galway, who had advanced ovarian cancer and who was forced to wait 25 hours on a trolley in A&E. Her sister Kay Coburn was told that it was procedure to admit the patient through A&E. The situation was also compounded by a lack of beds in the oncology ward.
Senator Healy Eames said that “automatic direct admission” to the centre was the most appropriate course of action for patient on chemotheraphy as it would limit risk of infection and provide for better monitoring.
“UHG staff are doing their best but are suffering from a crippling moratorium on staffing as a result of Fianna Fail /Green and supporting Independent TDs. It has been underfunded for years now and is facing a €22 million budget deficit this year. Two months ago I learnt that one of the major contributory factors to this budgetary situation is the fact that UHG had not yet received €12 million for cancer drugs, since the hospital was designated a cancer centre as well as two consultant posts. Finally it looks like the Government has decided to allocate some much needed resources into the cancer centre but more resources, expertise, and time are needed before it can be called a centre of excellence,” said Senator Healy Eames.
