Devins criticises cancer strategy

Minster of State at the Department of Health Dr Jimmy Devins has said he is "absolutely outraged" at the Health Service Executive's decision to discontinue cancer surgery at Sligo General Hospital.

The Sligo-based TD said the move made no sense given the excellent services in place in the hospital and the fact that University College Hospital Galway did not have the capacity to deal with extra patients.

The move is part of a plan announced jointly by the HSE and Minister for Health Mary Harney last month to centralise cancer care at eight hospitals across the State. Under the plan University College Hospital Galway and Limerick Regional Hospital will provide services for the HSE West region, and there will also be a special outreach cancer care service provided from Letterkenny General Hospital.

The changes are to occur on a phased basis between now and late 2009.

Deputy Devins told Ocean FM radio in Sligo yesterday that the decision to phase out cancer surgery in Sligo General Hospital "makes my blood boil".

He said he believed the decision could be reversed but only if the argument was made on a logical rather than an emotional basis.

He told The Irish Times he was opposed to the National Cancer Care Strategy Group's "flawed" decision in relation to Sligo, not because the hospital was based in his constituency, but because he believed the service already in the hospital met with best international standards.

He said 70 patients had undergone surgery in Sligo so far this year, which was well above the 50 recommended annually in order for staff to maintain the required level of proficiency. He said all related services were provided at the hospital and there was a genuine fear among the public that they might not get the same care and might not get it as quickly under the new regime.

Dr Devins said he supported the policy of establishing centres of excellence but he believed Sligo should have an outreach facility networked to Galway.

As anger continues in Sligo over recent hospital cutbacks, Dr Devins said he would have attended a protest march planned for this Thursday if he had not had a prior engagement in Cork. Dr Devins said he had already outlined his concerns to Ms Harney, who last week received a letter signed by 93 family doctors in Co Sligo expressing their opposition to the hospital cutbacks. The letter, sent by Dr Lisa Gallagher, secretary of the Co Sligo GP Society, stated: "To state that these moves will have no effect on patient care is dishonest and wrong and is insulting to the professionals involved".

The HSE West has confirmed that the transition of breast cancer services from Sligo to Galway will take place on a phased basis.

"I believe that cancer surgery should not and will not be removed from Sligo General Hospital and I will work all the hours God sends me to make sure it is not," said Dr Devins.

Responding to his comments, Ms Harney told reporters in Dublin: "Well we have made a decision which was supported by the Government that eight cancer centres would be providing surgical treatment around the country. Obviously mammography and chemotherapy and other services can be provided at a local level provided they are planned from the cancer centre."