In January 2007, a young mother from Kilkenny known only as ‘Rosie’ revealed on the national airwaves that she had been handed a death sentence by the Irish healthcare system.
With her emotional and emotive e-mail sent to Liveline, Susie Long ignited a public and political debate about the cruel inadequacies of the two-tier healthcare system, exposing a personal tragedy that resulted from long waiting lists for public patients. Susie Long died of bowel cancer on the 7th of October 2007, aged 41 years.
Over three years after her death, family and friends recall the life, legacy and last days of Susie Long in this Scannal documentary: her campaigning spirit, her commitment to social justice and her unshakeable belief in a just and equitable healthcare system for all, even in the face of death
Scannal includes contributions from Conor Mac Liam (Susie’s husband ); Joe Duffy (RTÉ broadcaster ); Dr. Garry Courtney (Clinical Director St. Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny ); Eimear Ní Bhraonáin (Irish Independent ); Marie O’Connor (Health Analyst ); Malcolm Noonan (Friend ) and Áine Nic Liam (Susie’s daughter. Áine speaks publicly for the first time about their Mother/Daughter relationship – not always an easy one and the new understanding she developed during Susie’s final days, for her mother’s values, stubbornness, and determination to change the system.
The documentary will be aired on RTE1 on April 18 next at 7.30pm.
