John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Last week, the Irish Cancer Society launched its pre-budget submission, which highlighted that patients in the west and north west face the longest wait time between cancer diagnosis and commencement of appropriate treatment. Dr. Michael McCarthy, president of the Irish Society of Medical Oncology and a consultant oncologist at University Hospital Galway, said:

Working in the West of Ireland, I see the human cost of the postcode lottery in Irish cancer care every day. Once chemotherapy is prescribed, the National Cancer Strategy states that it should start within fifteen working days. The reality in Galway is that patients are now typically waiting seven to eight weeks for their first session. With every week that passes, the risk increases that their cancer will grow, or worse that it will spread to other parts of their body.

Dr. McCarthy went on to describe the conditions of the facilities in Galway as follows:

In 2016, the day ward in Galway University Hospital had 13,000 visits. By 2024, that had increased to 25,000. Our doctors, nurses, hospital pharmacists and others have done everything they can to minimise waiting times. However, we simply don’t have enough staff, space, or equipment to cope and patients are paying the price.

The report went on to note that at University Hospital Galway there is no PET scanner, meaning scans are being conducted privately at a higher cost. The hospital also needs a new CT scanner and facility. One CT scanner is 17 years old and keeps breaking down. Visit volumes have increased as patients require more intense treatment over longer durations.

The Tánaiste and I spoke previously about the work of the capital programme oversight board at University Hospital Galway and the need for progression of the infrastructure master plan it has developed. University Hospital Galway is the only model 4 hospital in the HSE west and north west region. It serves a population of more than 850,000 people and that patient population increases to 1.1 million for cancer services for which it also covers County Clare and parts of the midlands. The Saolta group stated during the development of the master plan that the outdated and suboptimal facilities in the hospital make the provision of adequate care more challenging.

Recently, the Minister for Health launched the master plan for the hospital in Galway. Among the proposals in the master plan are additional beds, a new accident and emergency unit, a new maternity and paediatrics facility, new laboratories and a new cancer centre. I understand that the preliminary business case for the new master plan will be delivered to the Department of Health by the end of July. Interestingly, in the Irish Cancer Society's pre-budget submission, it calls on the Government to address the deficits in cancer care by prioritising cancer infrastructure in the new national development plan.

I noted that in an earlier response, the Tánaiste mentioned the social infrastructure that will be included in the new national development plan. I am looking for a commitment that the implementation of the master plan for the hospital in Galway will be included in the national development plan and will specifically include all aspects of the progression of the master plan, including the new cancer facility.

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