Petition lodged with EU to retain cancer services in Sligo (17/7/08)
July 18, 2008 at 8:50 am Leave a comment
The latest incidence of misdiagnosed cancer cases at University College Hospital in Galway has prompted fresh calls for an immediate stop to the transfer of cancer services from Sligo General Hospital to Galway. Under the Health Service Executive’s national cancer strategy, patients from the north west will have to travel to Galway or Dublin for cancer treatment. Local action groups in Sligo have led a vigorous campaign for the retention of cancer services, organising a series of well-attended public protests. And in the last fortnight, a group of oncology experts in Sligo has submitted an online petition to the EU Parliament, warning that the move is likely to result in poorer survival figures. They have also made submissions to Health Minister Mary Harney, quoting the US SEER database which shows that breast cancer survival rates in Sligo are as good as the figures from the best-ranking hospitals in the US or worldwide.
Local MEP Marian Harkin says the time has come to call a halt to the proposed transfer, and conduct a ‘proper review’ of cancer services before any further action is taken. She has accused the Health Minister of ‘plucking figures from the air’ to back up her claim that outcomes will improve by up to 20 per cent if services are transferred. ‘There is no basis for that figure, as there are no baseline studies in Sligo or Galway,’ said the Independent MEP. ‘The only information we have is this latest investigation which found a significant number of diagnostic errors and system inadequacies in Galway.’ It’s dreadful news for the patients involved – it’s the kind of situation that strikes fear into the heart of everyone concerned.’ ‘But,’ she concluded, ‘Is anybody listening?’
The submission made to the European Parliament will take approximately six months before it is heard, and this will only happen if it is deemed admissible by the Petitions Committee.
Entry filed under: Eurolink Northwest, Health and the EU. Tags: .
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