Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Just over a year ago, I raised the crisis in the dermatology service at Sligo University Hospital, SUH, with the then Taoiseach, now Tánaiste, Deputy Micheál Martin. Back then, Dr. McKenna, the consultant dermatologist at SUH, had contacted all healthcare providers to inform them his clinics would be cancelled as there were more than 3,500 new patients waiting for their first appointments and 100 new referrals each week. According to Dr. McKenna, one year later his service has fewer nursing hours than it did 20 years ago and, after two years of trying, he cannot get an examination light installed to properly examine patients. On top of that, a senior dermatologist at Letterkenny University Hospital retired a few weeks ago and all his patients are now being referred to Dr. McKenna, who says that this will impact patient survival, especially in the context of highly time-sensitive cancers. The situation was critical a year ago. What is the Government going to do about the dermatology service now?

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