The Minister for Health has acknowledged that the current situation for cancer services at University Hospital Kerry is unacceptable and unsustainable.
Minister Stephen Donnelly said he visited the hospital in January and discussed the matter with senior management and his priority is that every patient in the Kerry region receives the best possible care in the right environment.
Responding to a parliamentary question from Kerry TD Pa Daly, who asked for a timeline at for when the public can expect a new oncology unit to be built, the minister said the project, which will provide greater capacity, is going through “the appropriate stages” for capital projects.
“It completed appraisal in 2022 and a design team has now been appointed. The project will be advanced this year by the hospital project team and HSE,” Minister Donnelly stated.
He said the chemotherapy services operate on a “hub and spoke” model which provide for patients to receive treatments in a centre closer to home, where appropriate.
Over the course of the Cancer Strategy 2017-2026, there has been an increase in the number of patients receiving chemotherapy.
“These developments are taking place under National Cancer Strategy, which has received significant investment in recent years. Over 2021 and 2022, €40 million additional funding was provided to cancer services, bringing the total funding for cancer services in 2022 to €139 million,” Mr Donnelly stated,
The funding was used to hire 26 acute oncology nurses, who provide a triage service to cancer patients which helps them to manage their care and avoid emergency department attendance.
Deputy Daly said the response gives no firm timeline for cancer suffers in Kerry.
“Other services will likely be compromised as well during surge periods, which have previously resulted in months of closures for the day ward and many cancelled day procedures,” he remarked.
“This all results from a lack of planning and investment on behalf of the government. A proper workforce plan as well as extensive capital works are require to ensure facilities are up to scratch,” Deputy Daly said.
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