Regional Health Authority West member Cllr Evelyn Parsons has called for sustained and permanent investment in breast cancer services across the West, following confirmation from the HSE that recent improvements in waiting times have been achieved through temporary additional capacity.
Raising the issue directly with the HSE, Cllr Parsons sought detailed information on waiting times from urgent GP referral to first specialist assessment for patients with suspected breast cancer in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.
In its response, the HSE confirmed that urgent referrals should be offered an appointment within ten working days. In May 2026, 422 patients were triaged as urgent, with 380 patients seen or offered an appointment within this timeframe, representing 90% compliance. The HSE indicated that performance is expected to reach 100% for June.
However, the response also confirmed that this improvement has been driven by temporary insourcing initiatives, with no further additional clinics currently planned. It further revealed that compliance with the same target stood at just 26% during 2025, highlighting the scale of the capacity challenge faced by the service.
Reacting to the figures, Cllr Parsons said nobody should face the added anxiety of waiting for assessment after being urgently referred with suspected breast cancer. Early diagnosis is one of the most important factors in achieving the best possible outcomes.”
While welcoming the progress made, Cllr Parsons said the reliance on short-term measures raises serious concerns.
“It is very welcome to see such a significant improvement in waiting times. However, the fact that this has been achieved through temporary additional capacity highlights a clear gap that now needs to be addressed on a permanent basis.If services can reach 90 to 100 per cent compliance when additional resources are made available, then the focus must now be on ensuring that this level of access becomes the standard, rather than something that depends on short-term initiatives.”
Cllr Parsons said the contrast with 2025 performance demonstrates the consequences of insufficient capacity.
“Behind every statistic is a person and a family living with uncertainty at an incredibly difficult time. The drop to 26% compliance last year underlines the impact that capacity constraints can have on patients,” Cllr Evelyn Parsons said emphasising that these findings should inform future investment decisions.
“This response clearly shows that when additional investment is made, it delivers results. The priority now must be to translate that into sustained funding, workforce planning and service capacity so that timely access is consistently available.”
“Access to timely diagnosis and treatment should not depend on geography or temporary measures. Patients across Galway, Mayo and Roscommon must have consistent access to high-quality cancer services, in line with the principles of Sláintecare,”
Cllr Parsons said it was important to highlight equity in cancer care and said she will continue to engage with the HSE to advocate for timely and effective care for patients across the region.
