Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 1 February 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

Cancer Treatment Services: Discussion

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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Okay, I thank Ms Morrogh for that. The Irish Cancer Society acknowledged earlier the additional resources that have been provided in recent years. In some services the problem is now that there are resources but no staff and that is the difficulty. Would Ms power say that applies to cancer services generally? I am particularly asking about radiation therapy where we are told there is a staff shortage rate of around 30% across services which is extraordinary in relation to cancer services. Why are these things happening and why do we not have a sufficient supply and why are the training places not being provided to enable the additional staff that are desperately required? Would Ms Power then describe the problems as being more due to lack of planning in workforce needs or is it resources? Are we in the position that the resources are there but we cannot get the staff?