Ms Averil Power:

Part of the challenge is that people may not necessarily be getting their cancer treatment in the nearest hospital, and for good reason. It is better they go to a centre of excellence such as one of the cancer centres. However, if people have an emergency they would normally go to the local hospital. Other countries have separate pathways for that. For people who are getting their cancer treatment in St. James's Hospital and then have an emergency or are in extreme pain, it is true that going to St. James's Hospital means their files are available, but they should not be going through an emergency department. It would better if they were going through a cancer pathway in St. James's Hospital, an out-of-hours service for cancer patients, rather than sitting in a crowded waiting room. As members will be aware from Covid-19, the infection risk is much greater for people who are on cancer treatment. It is terrifying to think they have to go through an overcrowded emergency department and put themselves at risk to get access to urgent care. It is simply not acceptable that for many people that is the only route into hospital, especially out of hours. It should not be that way.