THE DIRECTOR OF University Hospital Galway’s cancer network has said that urgent resources are needed to address the fact that the West and North-West of the country suffers from the highest incidence and mortality rates from cancer.
There are eight hospitals designated for cancer treatment by the National Cancer Control Programme, four in Dublin and one each in Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. Overcrowding in the hospital has been highlighted in recent years and UHG was found to be the third most overcrowded hospital in the country in December of last year.
“There’s a direct correlation between cancer outcomes and the deprivation index, for people living in poorly serviced areas there’s a much worse outcome.” “If there was a drug that improved your chances by 6%, you’d be asking why people in the West aren’t getting access to it,” he added.