Fine Gael Local Press Office Press Statement ( Courtesy of Joe Mc Hugh’s Weekly Summary)

Grier House Contact: Joe McHugh TD

Lower Main St Enda McHugh  Donegal North East

Letterkenny  9123931/ 0861593098

“McHugh welcomes talks on North-West radiotherapy unit”

  Deputy Joe McHugh has welcomed the talks between Mary Harney and Michael McGimpsey, in what he describes as a massive step forward for the North-West.

 He claims that by entering into negotiations with her Northern counterpart, Mary Harney has taken a positive approach to the issue of cancer care in the North-West.

 “This is a major boost for everyone living in the region. I have said for a long time now that the way forward is by entering into dialogue with politicians across the border. By harmonising the health service of both jurisdictions, we can provide quality healthcare for everyone.”

 However, the deputy was adamant that action had to be taken sooner rather than later. “Today the first step has been taken, but it must be followed quickly with the second step, or we could find ourselves playing the waiting game. We’ve waited long enough and I would urge Mary Harney to continue with the initiative she has shown and create a platform to enable us to provide radiotherapy treatment for the people of North-West. Women in Northern Ireland have had access to breastcheck for almost 15 years and it’s important that resources are shared among all border counties.”

He also added, that with further cutbacks being introduced in Galway University Hospital, it was essential that the people of Donegal had access to the proper facilities. “Galway University Hospital have lost more frontline staff, despite the fact that it is supposed to cater for everyone from Galway to Donegal. There is no way it can provide an adequate service with such cutbacks, so it’s up to us in the North-West to ensure that we get the facilities that are required.

 The Fine Gael T.D. insisted that this breakthrough was a result of the great work carried out by members of the DACC and the ‘Co-operating for Cancer Care North-West.’ “These organisations have brought upon themselves to secure better health treatment for the people of this region, and their hard work and dedication must be commended.

Joe McHugh’s first private members speech.

Wednesday 26^th of September.  Cancer care for the North-West

• Today we stand here in a new society, a society where our young people are confident, educated and skilled. They have no doubt in their talents and are striding forward with ease. Our country has produced some of the most skilled graduates in the world.
• But what use is this if they are to die at 40? Is skill and talent alone going to cure the curse of cancer? It seems to me, that this government obviously thinks so.
• 7000 people are dying each year in this country because of cancer. 640 of those die of breast cancer. These are numbers and statistics, but the reality is that these people are not just numbers; they are individuals, individuals leaving behind broken families and heartache.
• The Minister for Health has announced that cancer care is to be centralised, with centres of excellence opening in Cork, Galway, Dublin and Waterford. This is great news, if you live in these parts of the country.

• Once again, this government has failed the people of the North-West. Once again we must admit to ourselves that we are second class citizens. And once again we must watch our loved ones die, needlessly, just because we live in Donegal.
• The minister will use the empty rhetoric that we do not have the critical population mass to justify a satellite centre with a population of 237,108. But if the government were to look at the bigger picture, it would see clearly that a dedicated radiotherapy cancer service for the North West is feasible.
• The North West, which comprises of Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry has the critical mass to justify a radiotherapy centre, and I am calling on the Irish government, the HSE and the Northern administration to formulate a road map for this project is to be realised. It is vital that clarity on future plans is provided for the most vulnerable of people who are suffering from cancer.
• The fact of the matter is that the North West needs a radiotherapy unit and I am demanding that the North West gets this unit. The minister has in the past made reference to a plan for Donegal patients to avail of radiotherapy services in Belfast, but this does not provide a long term solution to the problem, it just further highlights the contempt shown to the northern part of our country by our government.

• We have a situation, where a voluntary organisation is providing breast checks for the women of Donegal. We pay the government thousands each year, yet an organisation, which isn’t being paid, is doing a better job than the entire cabinet of this government.

• The key point is that Mary Harney, the HSE and National treatment fund are working as separate autonomous bodies, meaning that no one knows what the other is doing, causing confusion and ultimately, what we have witnessed, chaos.
• Fianna Fail are talking about mergers with the SDLP in the North, perhaps their efforts would be better deployed in creating policy mergers with their Northern counterparts, such as a ‘Health Care provision harmonisation.

• I find it humorous that Fianna Fail wants to set up in Northern Ireland, when it seems clear that they neither think nor care about Donegal, which just as a reminder to them, is in the Republic of Ireland. You may think I’m being flippant on the issue, but I am merely conveying the thoughts of my electorate. An electorate, which is literally sick of empty promises and pledges.
• I am here to battle on behalf of my constituents, constituents who are forced to endure a journey from Donegal to Dublin for treatment; this is both a disgrace and a scandal. Last year, a woman had to endure a 7 hour journey, using petrol stations and pubs for toilet stops; the reality is that live cattle exports to Italy are treated better than cancer patients.
• There is a need to open up our health centres to provide our patients with comfortable breaks on their journey.
• Everyone in the country pays equal taxes and in a fair and just world, everyone would receive equal treatment, but our world is not fair and it is not just. There is only one thing worse than having cancer and it’s having cancer in Donegal

TD welcomes cancer strategy

Health Minister Mary Harney is working with her counterpart in Northern Ireland to ensure that the north-west - the area west of the River Bann and County Donegal - receives the radiotherapy therapy service it deserves, Fianna Fáil's Niall Blaney has told the Dáil.

During a debate on cancer services, Deputy Blaney said he looked forward to Professor Keane taking up his new job of rolling out the cancer centres of excellence. The fiasco in Portlaoise highlighted the need for such centres.

"It is somewhat hypocritical that Deputies opposite call for better quality services when they will not take the crunch when it comes to providing cancer services in hospitals," he said.

"They all want the services to be delivered in their own backyards, which

is not logical. It is mere political opportunism to run around the country calling on party colleagues to organise rallies and it does not help to put in place any of the Minister's proposals."

Deputy Blaney said he was particularly pleased that the Minister had included Letterkenny General Hospital as an outreach facility because Donegal faced significant geographical problems. The Minister had recognised that the county is much further from Galway and Dublin than the people of counties Sligo and Mayo.

"Even though services are now being provided in Letterkenny, people in parts of the county are probably further from Letterkenny hospital than the remotest parts of counties Mayo and Sligo are from Galway," he added. "We should all get real about this issue and have the common sense to stop using it as a political football. Let us treat these proposals with the respect they deserve."

( Courtesy of the Derry Journal 16th Nov 07)

Blaney vows to push for radiotherapy 05.11.07
A Donegal T.D., has vowed to use his membership of a Dáil committee to push for a radiotherapy service in the North West.
Deputy Niall Blaney has been appointed to the Joint Oireachtas Health Committee. He said this role will put him in a good position to lobby for Donegal's health needs.
“I look forward to working on the Health Committee and also to using it to represent the needs of my constituents and the people of the North West," he said.
“Discussions have already commenced between the Government and the Northern Assembly to establish a radiotherapy centre in the North West and I will use my membership of this committee to ensure that this vision is fulfilled.”

( Courtesy of www.inishowennews.com)