Fianna Fáil General Election candidate for Galway West, Gráinne Seoige, has responded to recent criticism on her campaign to improve cancer treatment facilities in Galway, dismissing claims that she has ‘no regard’ for the cancer teams based in the west.
“In recent days some people have suggested that I have no regard for all of the brilliant medics, healthcare staff and support staff. This is not true, and I would never behave in this manner,” she said yesterday.
“We all know that staff are not the issue. The issue is the infrastructure, the equipment, the buildings etc. This is the real-life problem in Galway. Our cancer treatment centre needs to be upgraded to a modern-day facility, not what is onsite now. This is what is hindering more positive outcomes. This is what will help overall improve cancer treatment outcomes.” stated Ms Seoige
“We have top class medical staff in Galway in the line of the best of the best of doctors and nurses. This is not the problem,” she said, adding that if elected, she will work to secure funding and ensure the delivery of the planned centre of excellence for cancer treatment at University College Hospital Galway (UCHG ).
This initiative, introduced into the National Development Plan by Fianna Fáil and former Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath, represents a crucial step in addressing Galway’s healthcare needs, and Ms Seoige is determined to see it through over the next five years.
She emphasised the recent strides in healthcare investment, particularly the opening of the new trauma unit at Merlin Park Hospital and the ongoing commitment to further expand and enhance this facility.
Ms Seoige highlighted the need to address discrepancies in cancer treatment outcomes between Dublin and Galway. She attributed these disparities, in part, to a decade of underinvestment in Galway’s healthcare infrastructure. She cited remarks by Professor Michael Kerin, who described breast cancer treatment outcomes as “an eircode lottery.” Ms Seoige is committed to reversing this trend and advocating for equitable cancer care for Galway residents.
“The Cancer Centre at Galway University Hospital is responsible for the delivery of the cancer programme in our region — West, North West the poorest and most dispersed region in the country. Cancer care provision involves access to diagnostics such as X-ray and laboratories by multidisciplinary teams, rapid access programmes, in patient care for complex chemotherapy and surgery .
“All of this takes place in competition with the emergency programme from facilities that are outdated, the main block was built in 1953, has 110% bed occupancy and substantial numbers of patients on trolleys every day,” she said.
Urgent delivery needed
“The issues can be solved by urgent delivery of the Model 4 hospital project incorporating the cancer centre with appropriate facilities. This will ensure timely access to fit for purpose facilities and give our population a chance to bridge the east west divide in cancer outcomes - realising that the eastern part of the country has four cancer centres in a 10 mile radius in Dublin.
“The people of our region need the urgent delivery of this facility and it will allow our outstanding doctors, nurses and allied health professionals the opportunity to deliver appropriate treatment for cancer without the awful challenges, waiting lists and delays of the current system. Having the cancer centre and network placed on the National Development Plan was a huge statement by Fianna Fáil in the outgoing government but we must now all work together to have it delivered,” said Ms Seoige.
“It is important to point out that for years top medical people who are based in University Hospital Galway have said this. And there is a trail of media reports locally and nationally by these medical people all outlining and campaigning on this. Over the years meetings have been held with all politicians to highlight this dire need.
“The facts are that the west and north-west have the highest national incidence of cancer, and while outcomes have improved nationally, the survival rates for breast and lung cancer are lowest in the west and north-west.
“Currently finding beds for cancer patients who need to be admitted can be a struggle and in the new centre they will be ring-fenced. Because of competition between the various heath needs, cancellations are a regular feature primarily because of the infrastructure that is presently onsite.
“It goes without saying that a modern that building would obviously improve outcomes. As I have stated, this is now in the National Development Plan but critically it will be up to the next government to fund it and deliver it. I believe that this is absolutely essential for the west of Ireland and will put us on par with other facilities nationwide. The delivery of this new cancer care facility would be huge not just for Galway but the entire western seaboard” concluded Ms Seoige.
