Ciarán Cannon (Fine Gael)

I ask the Leader to call on the Minister, Deputy Harney, to come to the Chamber to give us an update on the effectiveness of her recently introduced cancer excellence scheme. Any fair-minded person, upon hearing of this scheme two years ago, would have argued that it was the right way to go, but only on the basis that they would receive excellent care when they got there. The experience in Galway at present is quite the opposite. Between the two main hospitals in Galway, there are 140 beds closed. Any one of us who has had a near relative or friend going through the chemotherapy process knows what a harrowing experience it is. It renders the person very fragile, both emotionally and physically. It is disgraceful to have appointments being made for chemotherapy care and to have patients arriving at the hospital, assuming they will undergo chemotherapy and being turned away. That is what is happening at present in Galway in this centre of excellence.

On local radio in Galway last week we heard the harrowing account of a man bringing his wife on two occasions to the so-called centre of excellence only to have her turned away and not receive her chemotherapy treatment.