Deputy Pearse Doherty has called on both the HSE and the Minister for Health to progress the recruitment of the long awaited second Consultant Breast Surgeon position at Letterkenny University Hospital.
Deputy Doherty, who this week has written to Minister for Health Simon Harris to request that Health officials agree to urgently convene the dedicated Forum established to examine the issue of cancer services at the hospital in order to discuss the appointment, says that a second surgeon must be appointed without further delay.
Deputy Doherty said he contacted Minister Harris to make a formal request that he and his officials urgently recall the Forum of stakeholders which has been set up and tasked with examining the recruitment of a much needed second breast surgeon at Letterkenny University Hospital.
“My colleague Senator Pádraig MacLochlainn, who was in attendance at the follow-up meeting held last month between the Department and Donegal cancer campaigners in Dublin, informs me that it concluded with an agreement made by all those present to convene the Forum with the view to further progress efforts to fill the post at LUH.
“As everyone knows, Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh made the commitment prior to last year’s General Election that this post had been secured for the hospital yet, here we are well over a year on and recruitment for the position hasn’t even commenced yet.
“It’s a widely known fact that a second breast surgeon is badly needed at the hospital where the current surgeon, Dr Sugrue, continues to go over and above the call of duty each day to see patients at the hospital despite the growing demands being placed on him and his team.
“Data on the number of breast surgeries and procedures carried out on the breast at the hospital highlights the there are a high volume of cases at Letterkeny which, for a hospital where only one surgeon is employed, is very challenging.
“And anecdotal evidence would suggest that the case load at the hospital and the number of patients requiring surgery on the breast is growing steadily which only further reinforces the need to recruit an additional surgeon.
“It’s been claimed previously that the delays which have been experienced to date to recruit a second surgeon are due to some opposition from the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP), which oversees cancer policy and service delivery however, I believe that not enough political will to fill this vacant consultant post has been demonstrated by Government.
“I believe that no challenge in respect of this post is insurmountable however, it’s clear that the Minister must now recall the Forum arising from the follow-up meeting with the Department of Health last month and that all stakeholders, including the HSE, SAOLTA, and the NCCP must now come to the table in order to deliver a second breast surgeon for the hospital.
“This is why I have this week written to Minister Harris to demand that he urgently convenes the Forum members in order to allow it to continue with its work and to advance the efforts being made to deliver a second surgeon at the hospital.
“The example shown by the various cancer campaign groups involved in patient advocacy here in Donegal has been phenomenal and it is thanks to them that the issue of cancer services is now on the agenda politically.
“It’s now the task of the Minister for Health and the HSE to take their responsibility seriously and to ensure that a second breast surgeon is appointed to LUH without delay.”
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