Joe McHugh (Fine Gael)

I have been approached by relatives of cancer patients in Letterkenny and relatives of people who have since passed away. The oncology unit in Letterkenny General Hospital is second to none. There is a dedicated, professional team in place there under the stewardship of Dr. Karen Duffy and Mr. Chris Lyons. However, there is a problem with regard to the fast-tracking of cancer patients for emergency services. For example, a patient with breathing difficulties as a result of lung cancer would have to go through casualty, queuing along with other patients there.

As a qualified pharmacist, the Minister of State will be aware that on a Saturday night every type of patient can appear in hospital, as a result of car accidents, drink-induced injuries and even minor domestic injuries. I am calling for a separate channelling system for cancer patients who constitute a very vulnerable group. They are most susceptible to infection, including the winter vomiting bug. They and their relatives believe it is not appropriate for them to have to sit in casualty for up to three or four hours. It is not humane and is not in line with best practice for the treatment of cancer patients.

The kernel of the problem, which was acknowledged by staff at the oncology unit in Letterkenny yesterday, is bed capacity. That is a problem throughout the country, not just in Letterkenny. Nationally, bed capacity is operating at approximately 105%. Ideally it should be at 90% with a 10% bed space available for emergency cases, whether cancer patients or others.

This is a sensitive area as the Minister of State knows due to his medical expertise, which is much greater than mine. I wish to convey the sentiments and feelings of the people who have been affected by this situation. Their relatives have spent time waiting in casualty, sometimes for up to four or five hours, although they are only awaiting consultancy services for breathing difficulties or minor bowel surgery.

Time is precious enough for cancer patients. I have received repeated representations from a daughter who had to sit with her father for five hours in casualty two weeks before he passed away. That is not good enough and I know the Minister of State also does not believe it to be good enough. Bed capacity is the problem so I am seeking some form of intervention to allow cancer patients to be treated as a separate group. Hopefully, in the short to medium term they will not have to wait in casualty for emergency services.