Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

A matter of deep concern to me over the course of this pandemic has been the cessation of cancer screening, delayed cancer diagnoses and the disruption to the treatment of cancer patients. I raised the matter of the shutdown of normal healthcare services in response to Covid-19, in addition to many other questions, in correspondence to the Minister for Health dated 16 November. To date, almost three months later, I have received no answers. The silence is as deafening as it is revealing. I had to write to the Minister because he did not stay in the Seanad Chamber to take questions on the response to Covid-19 on 10 November. The smug Minister of Health who uses the thumbs up emoji has not deigned to answer a single one of the questions I put to him in writing. He represents a Government that is totally out of touch with the suffering of ordinary people and which is failing them.

I want to recount the story of just one lady's experience in my area during the pandemic.

At the beginning of this year I was diagnosed with breast cancer having discovered a lump on my breast in December last year. I decided to see a breast surgeon privately, having encountered significant delays when attempting to access breast triple assessment clinics via the public system. Following initial investigations, the diagnosis of cancer was confirmed and I was recommended to have a mastectomy. I was shocked to hear that following my mastectomy I would not be offered reconstructive surgery at this time due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Breast reconstruction surgery has been deemed ‘non-essential’. To me, this seems a cruel and unnecessary deviation from the usual standard of care in breast cancer treatment.

I received the news that I had cancer on my own, I went into hospital to undergo surgery on my own and I was not allowed to have visitors. This was not easy but I understand the times that we are living in and what has to be done to protect the healthcare system and vulnerable members of our society. I cannot understand, however, the rationale for denying women reconstructive surgery at the time of a mastectomy during the pandemic. The reasons quoted were that it is a more extensive surgery which would involve a greater operative time and length of hospital stay.

The effect of deeming this surgery ‘non-essential’ means that I will go home without a breast, I will have to wait several months, embark on another surgery, another hospital admission and another period of recovery. Frankly, I cannot see the logic in this.

I would like to know how and by whom the decision to deem reconstructive surgery following cancer treatment ‘non-essential’ was made. I think those who made the decision failed to consider the huge physical and psychological impact a decision like this has on women who are undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Once again, I ask that the Minister provide a comprehensive assessment of the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on the health of the nation, the healthcare system and the outcomes for diagnosis and treatment of all conditions in the short, medium and long term. That analysis is essential for forming good public health policy.