Madam, – Margaretta D’Arcy’s letter (July 25th) highlights her difficulty gaining access to the University College Hospital, Galway (UCHG) for essential treatment. One patient of mine who needed essential surgery endured six months of making phone calls to the hospital inquiring whether a bed was available before being admitted.
If every GP in the west of Ireland has one patient with a similar experience then a lot of patients are waiting for essential care a long time.
I note that the breast cancer service in Sligo is to be stopped by the HSE in early August and patient care transferred to Galway. How will the hospital cope with these extra patients? It would seem ridiculous to transfer a service from a functioning unit to a hospital already under strain.
Is there a HSE policy in UCHG where one group of patients is guaranteed admission to a bed while others such as my patient and Ms D’Arcy have to wait?
It is time to re-evaluate health planning in this country and make health care accessible to all who need it, when they need it. – Yours, etc,
Dr KIERAN LONG,
New Antrim Street,
Castlebar,
Co Mayo.