Taoiseach Brian Cowen is to give “careful consideration” to proposals which offer an alternative to the transfer of breast cancer services from Sligo to Galway, two local Fianna Fail TDs have said.
A plan to establish a clinical network between Sligo and Galway was presented to Mr Cowen by former junior health minister and Sligo Fianna Fail TD Jimmy Devins and Fianna Fail Sligo TD Sligo Eamon Scanlon at a meeting today.
The proposal would “serve the needs of the people of the north west and also bring the service at Sligo into line with the highest of international practices,” the Sligo TDs said in a statement.
“The Taoiseach listened attentively to our presentation and gave us an undertaking to give it careful consideration,” the statement added.
They expected a decision from Mr Cowen “in a matter of days”.
Earlier a protest took place outside the Taoiseach's office against the transfer of breast cancer services from Sligo General Hospital to Galway University Hospital (GUH).
The Save Our Cancer Services North-West called on the Government not to go ahead with a transfer of services on August 6th.
The group is gathered outside the Taoiseach’s office on Merrion Square where they tied bras to the railings.
Hundreds of people, including cancer patients, are travelling to Dublin for the protest from Donegal, Cavan, Mayo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo.
They are concerned at the financial hardship and emotional strain that travelling to Galway or Dublin for mammograms, diagnosis and surgery will place on cancer patients and their families.
“People are struggling with shortages of money, they will have to get child minders etc - it’s an enormous task. It is not as if Galway is a brand spanking new facility,” Susan O’Keeffe of Save Our Cancer Services North-West said.
The group said that difficult parking at Galway hospital, traffic in the city and limited public transport in the north-west also added to the stress.
The Health Service Executive said that breast care management service at GUH has been expanding rapidly.
It said that not all cancer services were transferring from Sligo to Galway. Medical oncology services would continue and patients would continue to receive chemotherapy and their outpatient radiation oncology appointments at Sligo.
Breast surgery and initial diagnostic services were being transferred from the hospital, the HSE said.
The National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) said a travel fund was available for women with a “genuine financial difficulty in meeting the costs of travelling to the Breast Clinic."
Labour Health Spokeswoman Jan O’Sullivan said the party backed the protest.
“We have consistently supported centres of excellence but not the geographical apartheid that has located all eight in the bottom half of the country, four of which are in Dublin,” she said.
"All the evidence available suggests that Galway just won't be able to cope,” she said.
Fine Gael Sligo-North Leitrim TD John Perry called on Brian Cowen to keep breast cancer services at Sligo Hospital
The proposed transfer of services "ignores the breast cancer care needs of the population north of a line from Galway to Dublin," Mr Perry said.