West of Ireland patients travelling to University Hospital Galway for cancer treatment can now do so in more comfort thanks to the purchase of a specially designed €240,000 bus.
Patients from Donegal to Tipperary who need radiotherapy treatment attend the specialist cancer centre at the city hospital.
Funded by Friends of Sligo Hospital and Cancer Care West, (CCW ) the state-of-the-art 28-seater bus with toilet facilities and which is wheelchair-accessible, has been described as “impressive” by CCW chief executive Richard Flaherty.
Previously patients travelled in an old coach which he said had tight seats, very bad suspension, faulty air conditioning and no wheelchair accessibility.
“The new bus was made from scratch to take in everything that we needed. Nothing was skimped on. It is an impressive bus, but if you saw the old one it is even more impressive,” he said.
“We came in contact with the Friends of Sligo Hospital charity and they were also thinking of addressing the need for a new bus. They came back and said they were short €50,000 after the national lottery funding so we made up the shortfall. They sourced the bus and purchased it. It was a good outcome for everyone involved.”
