Less than one-third of Donegal patients start chemotherapy within target time

Just three in ten cancer patients in Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) are currently starting treatment for their tumours within the target timelines.

New figures show that just 31 per cent of cancer patients receive chemotherapy within the recommended 15 days.

This compares to 62 per cent in Galway University Hospital, 76 per cent in Sligo, 78 per cent in Portiuncula, and 100 per cent in Mayo University Hospital.

A key performance indicator under the National Cancer Control Programme states that cancer patients receiving a new parenteral systemic therapy in the day ward setting should not have to wait longer than 15 days from the time the patient is deemed ready for treatment for their therapy to begin.

A target of at least 90 per cent compliance with this objective has been set for all hospitals.

The figures for hospitals in the west and northwest were revealed in a meeting of the regional health forum for the area, held in February.

In response to a question from Donegal County Councillor Declan Meehan, health officials said that cancer treatment in all hospitals ‘are challenged due to increased demand’, which itself is caused by a number of factors, including more effective drugs, leading to increased survival rates, and the greater likelihood of subsequent treatment needed should the cancer return.

“Patient survival has improved, but this is associated with a significant increase in demand for cancer services in general, and cancer treatments, particularly the day wards,” the response stated.

They added that with the development of new drugs, treatment cycles often last longer, while greater tolerability of drugs means that more patients are now eligible for therapies, but such treatments can be complex.

As part of short-term plans to deal with the issue, four additional treatment bays have been provided to LUH as an extension to the day ward situated on the inpatient floor of the hospital.

The HSE also plans to develop an ambulatory cancer centre at LUH, as well as in Mayo, Portiuncula and Sligo hospitals, in line with the National Development Plan.

Work on the development of infrastructure around the cancer centre at Galway University Hospital is continuing. While a major new radiation oncology centre was opened there in 2023, difficulties in staffing the facility meant that a linear accelerator (Linac) in the new facility was left unused for at least a year.

In October, trade union SIPTU told an Oireachtas committee that the public health service has a 30 per cent shortage of radiation therapists.

As a result, four clinacs around the country – one each in Cork, Galway, St James’s and Rathgar – were not being used to treat patients.

Meanwhile, the regional health forum for the west heard how the HSE is to review its response to Storm Éowyn, which left particularly vulnerable people without power for up to two weeks.

In the aftermath of the storm, GPs in the west reported difficulties in reaching patients because of electricity and phoneline outages, while vaccine stocks requiring cold storage came under threat, and in some cases, perished due to delays in restoring power.

“As with all significant events, a ‘lessons learned’ piece of work will be completed by agencies, including the HSE and ESBN (ESB Network),” said Ann Cosgrove, integrated health manager for Galway and Roscommon.

“This will ensure that these issues are considered in the context of our experience and learning from the impacts and scale of Storm Éowyn, and will inform our planning going forward.”