Mayo cancer patients face 'postcode lottery'
The Irish Cancer Society has issued a warning about dangerous treatment delays for patients in the west of Ireland.
Cancer patients in the West are facing dangerous delays in diagnosis and treatment, contributing to avoidable deaths, the Irish Cancer Society has warned.
New data released by the organisation revealed serious shortcomings in cancer services at University Hospital Galway, with urgent calls for increased investment in staff, buildings and equipment.
Dr. Michael McCarthy, president of the Irish Society of Medical Oncology and Consultant Medical Oncologist at University Hospital Galway, described the situation in the west of Ireland as a ‘postcode lottery’ where lives are being endangered by delays.
“Working in the west of Ireland, I see the human cost of the postcode lottery in Irish cancer care every day. Once chemotherapy is prescribed, the National Cancer Strategy states that it should start within 15 working days," he said.
"The reality is that patients are now typically waiting seven to eight weeks for their first session. With every week that passes, the risk increases that their cancer will grow or, worse, that it will spread to other parts of their body," he added.
The situation is particularly severe for prostate cancer patients in the county.
Just one in ten (12.7%) of men referred to the Urgent Prostate Rapid Access Clinic were seen within the recommended 20 working days.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Irish men, and early detection is vital; when diagnosed at stage one, survival rates are nearly 100 per cent, while only half survive if diagnosed at Stage Four.
The figures show that in medical and haemato-oncology, Galway University Hospital achieved only 73 per cent compliance with the target of starting treatment within 15 working days. This places it in the lowest-performing group nationally, alongside Portiuncula and Sligo hospitals.
In radiation oncology, Galway University Hospital met the target of starting radiotherapy within 15 days for 79.8 per cent of patients, falling short of the 90 per cent target.
Compliance fluctuated during the year, ranging from 72.3 per cent to 88.7 per cent.
Urgent lung cancer referrals also fell short. While the national target is 95 per cent of patients seen within 10 working days, Galway achieved 87.4 per cent, with a low of 75.4 per cent at its worst point.
According to the Irish Cancer Society's figures, Galway's compliance rate is amongst the worst recorded, surpassed only by Limerick University Hospital with its recorded rate of 82.8 per cent, with a low of 60.5 per cent.
Lung cancer remains Ireland’s leading cause of cancer death each year, underscoring the importance of timely assessment and treatment.
