Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

A leading oncologist, a former consultant in Waterford Regional Hospital, in a recent open letter to the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children outlined the plight of cancer patients in the south and south east. The lack of designated beds in wards for cancer patients was highlighted. No dignity can be afforded to patients or their families in very difficult times, which is unacceptable in this day and age. He also highlighted the failure to extend BreastCheck to counties such as Waterford and stated that the late detection of cancers is costing lives. The sooner we have a debate on every aspect of cancer, the better. I call for that debate at the earliest possible date.