TDs accused

Cancer services in limbo

Calleary and Flynn say services not yet lost from MGH, despite claims from Kenny

Anton McNulty

MAYO’S Government-supporting TDs have been accused of ‘pussy-footing about’ on the issue of cancer services at Mayo General Hospital (MGH) and of failing to tell people what is happening.
Mary McGreal, one of the organisers of the 10,000-strong cancer rally on the streets of Castlebar last October, told The Mayo News yesterday (Monday) that she was ‘surprised and disgusted’ at the revelation by Fine Gael leader, Deputy Enda Kenny in recent days that the forthcoming Heath Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) inspections at MGH will have no impact on the decision to remove cancer services from the hospital, regardless of how high standards are found to be.
“I am really disgusted with the politicians for staying quiet and not telling us what is happening. On October 28, people came out to Castlebar and voted with their feet but since then the politicians have been pussy-footing about on the issue. At the end of the day, this is a political decision and the people expect them to be doing something but they have not delivered. It is up to the Government TDs to put the pressure on and we need straight answers from Dara Calleary and Beverley Flynn,” said Mary McGreal.
Deputy Kenny revealed late last week that, following correspondence with Professor Tom Keane, Interim Director of the National Cancer Care Programme, he learned that the forthcoming independent audit will not have any bearing on the retention of cancer services at the Castlebar hospital. Professor Keane informed him that the HIQA assessments only relate to the transition of the services to Galway and this, claims Deputy Kenny, will lead to the withdrawal of breast cancer services in Castlebar.
Deputy Kenny said that the service in Castlebar could only be saved by an order from the Government and felt this was unlikely because of the Government’s ‘appalling record’ on health issues in Mayo.
“When I first raised this matter I was accused of scare-mongering. People were then assured that not only would the service currently available be protected but that it would be expanded. Well, now we know the truth. Mayo General’s service, currently provided by Mr Kevin Barry, can now only be saved by an order from the Government,” he said.
However, despite criticism from Deputy Kenny and from Mary McGreal, both Dara Calleary TD and Beverley Flynn TD told The Mayo News that Deputy Kenny’s revelations had not changed the situation and that they would continue to put pressure on the Government to retain the services in Mayo.
Deputy Calleary explained that his job was to fight to ensure that the cancer services remain in Mayo and he said he would continue to put pressure on the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health.
“Last year, Enda Kenny said the service would be gone by Christmas and it is still in place and I will do everything to ensure it remains in place. We are still waiting for the independent audit to be carried out on Mayo General and when that shows the excellent standard provided at the hospital, I will put that to Mary Harney and the Taoiseach. Just because the issue has not been in the papers does not mean that nothing is being done, and I have not given up on the fight,” he said.
Deputy Flynn, who is on the Oireachtas Committee on Health, criticised Deputy Kenny for his negativity.
“There could be nothing further from the truth than to say I have not been putting pressure on the Minister. This has not gone off the political radar and my job is to try to retain the service and I will give my best to retain it in Mayo. A lot of politicians have looked at this negatively when we should all put on a united front rather than talking down the prospect of retaining the service. I’m not saying it will be easy but I will continue to press for these services,” she said.