Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

First, I want to acknowledge the brilliant work of the world-class surgeons, clinicians, consultants, oncology nurses and palliative care staff we have across this island. The cancer expertise we have on this island is absolutely remarkable. I also want to commend the work of the All-Island Cancer Research Institute and wish its representatives well in the high-level joint Euro-American forum coming up at the end of this month.

The fact of the matter is that the demand for cancer services is not being met in a timely and safe way because of the lack of political will to invest in the very basic infrastructure, particularly along the western seaboard. Target waiting times for cancer tests are not being met. Cancer surgeries are frequently delayed due to shortages of staffing, beds and theatre space. Expensive equipment lies idle. In Mayo University Hospital, the capacity in the oncology day ward cannot meet the current demand for the service. There are ten treatment chairs that can have a turnover up to 30 patients on any given day. This contributes to long delays for patients waiting treatment. The current staffing levels do not meet the demand for patient complexity. Those on maternity leave and long-term sick leave have not been replaced. There is only one toilet for all those patients. The lack of space and overcrowding is intolerable and risky. Why are we forcing staff and patients to wait for hours to have their treatment?

This Government and the previous one have failed to value community, district and regional hospitals. The cancer services are not properly funded, and the Minister of State knows that. We can have all the spin we want in this Chamber, but I am afraid the basics are not being met. We cannot use the expertise we have across the island or the very basic infrastructure that is needed to deliver it. I am asking the Minister of State for multi-annual funding to enable those experts to do their jobs.

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