According to todays Indo there are major protests planned in Sligo at plans by the HSE to transfer the cancer services for the North West of the Country to Galway.
I don't understand the HSE proposal and I don't understand the protests.
To me sending these services to Galway, seems to be a case of the HSE bashing a round peg into a square hole, just because it's there.
Have we not seen enough of this type of squabbling, where people in different parts of the country want to keep their local hospital fully operating and dealing with life or death matters such as cancer, even though the staff may not see enough cases per year in order for the hospital to become and remain a centre of exellence. What about the cases in another part of the Country, and I wonder how the people who argued to keep these services open felt when they found out what had happened. How would they feel if it was one of their own family that died as a result.
I know there is the usual Dublin V the Rest, but that sort of argument should be kept out of something as important as this. If I lived in the North West and needed these services, I think it would be a lot easier for me to travel to Dublin.
The Sligo train passes through Drumcondra Station, where it stops (sometimes). This station is only a 10 minute walk from the Mater Hospital. (or you could take the train straight into Connolly and get a commuter train the one stop back, or get a taxi, or walk if that was your preference).
I don't think the roads between Sligo and Galway are that hot. At least if you opt to go to Dublin for treatment, the roads on the way are better and as I said you have the option of using the train, if that is your preferred means of travel.
A person going home from hospital, having just undergone treatment for cancer, should not have to go to somewhere for treatment, more inconvienient and uncomfortable for them to get to, just because it's there.
Also, what about the people who don't have a car. What public transport is there from Donegal or Sligo to Galway and how regular and dependable is it?
You pays your money and you takes your chances. I know what I would do, if I found I had a lump that needed investigation, and it was my life on the line. If I found my Sligo Dr writing me out a referral letter to Galway, I wouldn't be long about telling him to change it to the Mater.
http://www.independent.ie/breaking-...cer-services-from-sligo-hospital-1360174.html
Murt
I don't understand the HSE proposal and I don't understand the protests.
To me sending these services to Galway, seems to be a case of the HSE bashing a round peg into a square hole, just because it's there.
Have we not seen enough of this type of squabbling, where people in different parts of the country want to keep their local hospital fully operating and dealing with life or death matters such as cancer, even though the staff may not see enough cases per year in order for the hospital to become and remain a centre of exellence. What about the cases in another part of the Country, and I wonder how the people who argued to keep these services open felt when they found out what had happened. How would they feel if it was one of their own family that died as a result.
I know there is the usual Dublin V the Rest, but that sort of argument should be kept out of something as important as this. If I lived in the North West and needed these services, I think it would be a lot easier for me to travel to Dublin.
The Sligo train passes through Drumcondra Station, where it stops (sometimes). This station is only a 10 minute walk from the Mater Hospital. (or you could take the train straight into Connolly and get a commuter train the one stop back, or get a taxi, or walk if that was your preference).
I don't think the roads between Sligo and Galway are that hot. At least if you opt to go to Dublin for treatment, the roads on the way are better and as I said you have the option of using the train, if that is your preferred means of travel.
A person going home from hospital, having just undergone treatment for cancer, should not have to go to somewhere for treatment, more inconvienient and uncomfortable for them to get to, just because it's there.
Also, what about the people who don't have a car. What public transport is there from Donegal or Sligo to Galway and how regular and dependable is it?
You pays your money and you takes your chances. I know what I would do, if I found I had a lump that needed investigation, and it was my life on the line. If I found my Sligo Dr writing me out a referral letter to Galway, I wouldn't be long about telling him to change it to the Mater.
http://www.independent.ie/breaking-...cer-services-from-sligo-hospital-1360174.html
Murt
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