Gráinne Seoige’s comments about cancer services in Galway are deeply irresponsible and only serve to scaremonger patients and their families, a Fine Gael General Election candidate has said.
Niamh Madden, Fine Gael General Election candidate for Galway East, has condemned the comments made by Gráinne Seoige in which she politicised the deeply sensitive issue of cancer treatment and outcomes.
“In what is a clear criticism of her party colleague Stephen Donnelly’s track record, Gráinne Seoige has turned the issue of cancer care in Galway into a political football.
“Gráinne’s tactless electioneering has achieved nothing other than increasing anxiety among cancer patients and their families across Galway,” she said.
“Voters have hit back at Gráinne’s comments, with one member of the public saying the ad made them feel ‘enraged’ and another calling it out as an ‘insult to doctors and nurses’.
“What does Gráinne say to someone who has just received a cancer diagnosis? To the families whose loved ones are currently undergoing treatment in Galway? Or to the nurses, doctors and medical professionals who work tirelessly across the county?
“My own father received cancer treatment earlier this year, both in the Galway Clinic and in University College Hospital Galway. The standard of care he received was absolutely incredible. Every single nurse, doctor, and staff member that cared for my father in both hospitals went above and beyond; we could not have asked for a better quality of treatment at any stage,” added Ms Madden.
“Fine Gael is focused on providing voters with real solutions to challenges that exist within our health service. We will be shortly launching our Healthcare manifesto which outlines our plans to double down on our investment into world-class cancer care for those across the country.
“We need politicians who are focused on solutions, rather than instilling fear in members of the public - especially those facing a worrying and upsetting cancer diagnosis,” concluded Niamh Madden.
