Cancer care campaigner Roseena Doherty Toner has said she wants double the number of protestors for her third demonstration at Letterkenny Unversity Hospital.
Roseena, a leukaemia survivor, is campaigning for a standalone cancer care unit at the hospital, which she said will benefit both patients and staff.
She has vowed to continue protesting until change is delivered, with her third protest scheduled for Saturday 26th April.
The Clonmany mother of five has been in remission for two years and receives ongoing care in Letterkenny.
In an update on her campaign, she said an email has been sent seeking a meeting with Sean Murphy, the manager of Letterkenny University Hospital. The email is co-signed by Sinn Féin Deputies Pearse Doherty and Padraig Mac Lochlainn and 100% Redress Party TD Charles Ward.
While she said the reply indicated that the hospital was looking into the Manager’s schedule, Roseena has vowed to continue her demonstrations.
March 31st Protest at Letterkenny University Hospital. Photo: Donegal Daily
“I would like double the number that was there last week,” Roseena said.
“If you haven’t been a cancer patient, if you haven’t lost someone to cancer, you don’t know how harrowing it is, how scary and how absolutely brutal…and you don’t realise how bad the services are in Letterkenny.”
Roseena, who was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid leukaemia (AML) two years ago, underwent a life-saving bone marrow transplant in early 2022.
She says that nobody knows when cancer may come to their door, and that Donegal patients should not be forced to travel for treatment.
“Cancer was the last thing on my mind, I was loving life and next thing, bang, you’ve got leukaemia,” she said.
“It’s not something we plan for, it happens. When it happens, you want the best care. You don’t want to be tramping 4-5 hours for treatment. Take it from somebody who knows.”
A main feature of her campaign is seeking an end to cancer patients with low immune systems having to wait in A&E.
“It’s of no disrespect to any staff member, but it’s like puting a maternity nurse in A&E, it doesn’t happen. We need a specialised unit. We need cancer patients to be looked after by specialised doctors, nurses and consultants.”
“26th April, let’s do it again because I am not stopping,” she added in a social media video.
Recent figures show that three in 10 cancer patients start treatment within the target timelines at LUH.
In a statement released last month, the HSE said that several challenges face all cancer care units. The rising incidence of cancer and more complex treatments have placed extra demand on services. Patient survival rates have also improved, which increases demand for cancer services in general and cancer treatments, particularly the Day Wards.
The statement said: “In order to address these challenges as effectively and as timely as possible LUH have established a working group comprised of the members of the Cancer MCAN management team and hospital clinical and management teams and have commenced measures to improve chemotherapy start times with the objective of returning performance to KPI targets within the shortest possible timeline.
“This includes the high risk cancer patients who are commencing the SACT (Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy) therapy on an inpatient basis.
“LUH has an area within the inpatient ward which has been designated as a Day Unit extension where patients can have their SACT treatment and will provide some immediate improvement in SACT start times.”
