Using figures from 1996, Senator Healy-Eames claimed that women in the west of Ireland have the worst health outcomes from breast cancer in the country, and that they are “years behind the rest of the country” with a lesser chance of survival than anywhere else. She also said that there were 16 per cent more deaths from breast cancer in the West than anywhere else nationally.

A spokesperson for the HSE West defended the west’s record on cancer treatment, saying that there are more immediate reconstructive breast surgeries carried out in UHG than in any other hospital nationally. Also, UHG is the only Irish hospital at which partial breast radiation treatment with the Mammosite device is available.

The controversy comes one week after an announcement that breast cancer services at Portiuncula Hospital were to end ‘with immediate effect’, in order to make way for a specialist centre at UHG. The HSE has said that this closure will work to the benefit of patients, as there were only 11 breast cancer surgeries performed in Portiuncula last year, and that all hospitals in this situation have been asked to cease breast cancer services. However, all other cancer services will continue at the hospital, including an expanded chemotherapy service.

Senator Healy-Eames’ comments join a growing chorus of concern from public representatives in the west, after Marian Harkin MEP spoke out last week on the delay in the provision of Breastcheck.

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