Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)

Catherine Sherry was 42 years old when she died of lymphoma cancer. She lived with her husband and young children just across the Border, in Newry. The special treatment she needed was not available in the North of Ireland but was available just one hour away in Dublin. Her heartbroken husband, Fergal, said she was forced to travel to London for that treatment and that travel significantly weakened her just when she needed her strength for that treatment. It also meant she could not be with her three sons during the final weeks of her life.

Clinicians have said that there is very little cross-Border cancer activity happening, aside from Altnagelvin hospital in Derry. Altnagelvin just treats 300 people annually. One in five cancer patients from Donegal uses Altnagelvin, the rest must go to Galway or Dublin. During the week, I raised the fact that 12% of cancer patients in the north west are not getting their treatment on time. Why is it that 27 years after the Good Friday Agreement there is still no overarching framework for cross-Border cancer care?

See this speech in context