Donegal Action for Cancer Care have welcomed the commitment to maintain the Symptomatic Breast Service at Letterkenny University Hospital.
DACC say they have worked very hard to continue to do since 2014 for the need for a second Breast Surgeon for Letterkenny University Hospital and our concerns over the future of the service.
Spokesperosn Betty Holmes said “Yesterday we received an update from the Mr. Power CEO of Saolta University Health Care Group that the solution they are looking at is to maintain the LUH symptomatic breast service in Letterkenny.
“In his reply letter to us Mr Power stated that the Saolta Group is very aware of the current difficult issues & outlined what has been happening regarding looking at potential solutions to overcome the issues not just in the short term but also to ensure the long-term sustainable delivery of services at Letterkenny University Hospital.”
Mr Power stated that they had met with the Western Health & Social Care Trust Medical Director and Surgical Lead to explore options on how they could work together into the future.
Mr Power reported that the meeting was very positive” said Betty Holmes DACC.
Ms Holmes added that while this is good news, DACC still have some concerns and wrote their reply to Mr. Power stating their considered possible solution which their hope will be given serious consideration.
DACC wrote in their reply letter “While we are glad that meetings are happening to look at possible solutions, again we must stress that those potential solutions must not be ones that will lead to the removal or downgrading of key cancer services at LUH. We agree that a long term solution must be secured.
“There is considerable value in looking at the potential of developing Cross Border Services this must not be about removing the service from LUH. We have Cross Border Radiotherapy & Cardiac Services at Altnagelvin now it is time to develop Cross Border at Letterkenny University Hospital. Not always out of Donegal.”
As discussions & meetings are currently happening with WHSCT the DACC say they really hope that a possible solution would be that a 2nd Breast Surgeon be recruited for Letterkenny University Hospital primarily based at LUH.
“This Breast Surgeon would treat the additional new patients at LUH and assuming there would be a shortfall in that Surgeon having the required number of new cancer diagnoses then that Surgeon could treat the additional number of new patients from the Altnagelvin catchment area preferably at LUH (true Cross Border) or at Altnagelvin Hospital. Again real partnership.
“We would have very serious concerns for the future of Breast and other cancer services at Letterkenny University Hospital if the potential solution that is being considered is a Breast Surgeon recruited & based at Altnagelvin Hospital with Donegal patients attending Altnagelvin.
“We look forward to a date for a meeting and hopefully good news re Breast Cancer Services at Letterkenny University Hospital.”
DACC say they will continue to work very hard for Donegal cancer patients & services in Donegal.
DACC is going now over 12 years, working very hard and are all voluntary and unpaid.
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