New beds for cancer care in West still four years away

The provision of further beds at Galway University Hospital, a cancer centre of excellence, will improve access to treatment for cancer patients at Mayo University Hospital; however, the 96 new beds are not expected to be delivered until 2028.

Cllr Michael Kilcoyne asked last week’s Regional Health Forum West about the arrangements that are in place in GUH to facilitate cancer patients who need urgent treatment that is not available in the hospital they are in, for example, MUH, which is not a cancer centre of excellence.

Anne Cosgrove, Interim CEO of Saolta University Healthcare Group said consultants in another Saolta Hospital will contact their colleagues in GUH to inform them of urgent requests for treatment and patients are then placed on the urgent staff.

She said in the Claddagh Hematology Ward there are 25 beds available, two of which are protected beds. In St Joseph’s Oncology Ward, there are 26 beds available, three of which are protected beds.

Ms Cosgrove added however that there are not enough cancer beds in Galway. She said that they are using any capacity they can in Galway and are utilizing 30 beds in two of the city’s private hospitals.

“There are plans to increase the number of beds, as part of larger campus plans. 96 beds are planned for GUH with a 2028 timeframe for delivery,” she said.

Cllr Kilcoyne remarked that this delivery date was far enough off for ‘another election or two.’