Cancer patients 'denied treatment at Galway University Hospital'– Mayo TD

A Mayo TD has called for immediate action to help cancer patients access treatment at Galway University Hospital (GUH)

Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh elaborated: "I have been made aware that multiple patients scheduled for cancer treatments such as chemotherapy have been told that there are no beds available at GUH.

“These are scheduled treatment essential to patients who are battling cancer. To be simply told that the hospital cannot see them, or even provide a date on which they will be seen, is a frightening situation.

“This comes on the back of news that University Hospital Galway has the second-highest number of people waiting on trolleys in the state.

“There are currently 52 people waiting on a trolley to access a bed. We now know that other are waiting at home for essential scheduled inpatient treatments.

“Despite the excellent healthcare delivered at the frontline by committed staff, patients are being failed due to lack of capacity in the system.

“Before Covid crucial targets in the National Cancer Strategy were missed relating to timely access to diagnostics, surgery, radiotherapy and screening.

“The government needs to immediately Kickstart National Cancer Strategy and increase funding for National Cancer Control Programme and provide additional funding to catchup on missed cancer diagnoses and care and treatment.”