One-week delay

One week delay for patients in ‘best possible’ service

BEVERLEY FLYNN
Anna-Marie Flynn

AS the only woman in Mayo who finished the race for Leinster House just one year and one day ago today (Tuesday) Deputy Beverley Flynn is standing by her position and her party on the decision to withdraw cancer services from Mayo General Hospital.
The Castlebar-based TD told The Mayo News that a timeframe of just one week in the life of a cancer patient will mean a ‘far superior service for everyone’.
“In the majority of cancer cases patients will be required to spend, at the very most, one week of their entire treatment in the Galway centre. The remainder of their treatments, be that weeks, months or years, will be delivered at MGH. Is one week that much of a sacrifice?” she said.
The deputy cited the provision of a Mayo Clinic as one of the major supports set to be put in place to ease the transition for patients across the county.
“Mayo patients will be dealt with in a special clinic,” she said. “Booking to that unit will be made through Castlebar. Specific treatment and consultancy times will be allocated to that clinic. Crucially, a dedicated staff of identifiable people will be assigned to the clinic so that continuity of contact between patient and staff will be maintained.”
The Fianna Fáil TD put what she called ‘the difficult decision’ to vote with the Government last week down to the fact that European statistics now rate Ireland 18 out of 23 in terms of the outcome of cancer survival. It is a figure she deems ‘utterly unacceptable’.
“I think there was an obligation on me to do the right thing in the interests of women. If I had cancer in the morning, or a member of my family had, I would want to go to a centre of excellence.”
Refuting the accusation that the move was a political decision, Deputy Flynn said she would have cast the same vote two months ago from the Independent benches.
“I am only back in Fianna Fáil a number of weeks but I would have made the same decision this time last year. There is statistical information behind this, theories that state this is the best method.”
She stressed the need for a positive future projection.
“From here we have to look at the transition period and ensure the services are moved with as little disruption as possible. Professor Keane has to stick to a timeframe and as a politician I have to monitor that and ensure this will be a success,” she concluded.