Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have been requested by people working in oncology to ask the Tánaiste about the oncology service. This is a critical health service which is caught in a storm between Covid and the aftershocks of the ransomware attack. A number of oncologists are really worried about where matters stand in the context of cancer services and the long-term impact of people not being diagnosed, the lack of screening, etc. The head of cancer care in my local hospital, University Hospital Limerick, Dr. Denis O’Keeffe, has stated that he is afraid many people will fall through the cracks because of this combination of issues. On behalf of all of the people who are suffering with cancer and those who have not yet been diagnosed, I ask whether there will be a targeted plan to deal with issues of cancer care throughout the country. In particular, will there be a catch-up service in the context of cancer screening, diagnostics and surgery?

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