DACC welcome and share Mr. Michael Sugrue’s vision for Breast Cancer Services at Letterkenny General Hospital.



Pictured at  press briefing Tuesday 21st Oct.08 in Letterkenny General Hospital are back row (l-r): Sean Murphy, General Manager; Geraldine Lawrence, Breast Unit Secretary; Siobhan Birrell and Ann McGroddy, Mammographers; Mary McMenamin, Breast Care Nurse and front row (l-r): Dr Conal Mac aBhaird, Consultant Breast Surgeon; Dr Katherine McGowan, Head Radiologist and Mr Michael Sugrue, the new Consultant Breast Surgeon.
New Breast Surgeon outlines future vision
By Lauren Harte Finn Valley/Letterkenny Post Donegal 074 9112706
In ten years time, Donegal will be internationally recognised as having one of the leading breast cancer specialist facilities in the world.
That's the vision of Letterkenny General Hospital's new Consultant Breast Surgeon, Michael Sugrue, who this week held a press briefing at the newly refurbished Breast Cancer Clinic to outline some of his plans for the future development of the facility.
The unit is now up and running with an average of 213 patients, both new and review being seen by doctors there every month. While not yet officially open, the clinic is due to be fully up and running next year and includes digital mammography and ultrasound equipment, provided by the Breast Check programme. It is staffed by the Consultant Surgeon, Oncologist, Radiologist and Breast Care Nurses. 
Mr Sugrue took up his new post as Consultant Breast Surgeon in Letterkenny in August, having previously worked closely with Oncoplastic Surgeons at Liverpool Hospital in Sydney.
After only three months in the position, Mr Sugrue says the high level of commitment, expertise and team effort already in place the hospital impresses him. 
"Ladies in the North West have access to a very impressive, modern and state of the art service. It is my hope that in between five and ten years time, we will have one of the leading breast cancer facilities in the world on our doorstep and one that would be internationally recognized." 
Mr Sugrue added that both he and staff at the hospital's Cancer Unit are anxious to see the Breast Check programme rolled out across Donegal as soon as possible.
Sean Murphy, the hospital's General Manager says staff are committed to the development of breast cancer services in Donegal, in conjunction with the region's designated Cancer Centre at University College Hospital, Galway. 
"We are determined to ensure that our patients' experience of the breast service here is first class and I believe that our new unit is an important step in that effort." 

DACC welcome news on screening plan at last for bowel cancer

08/12/2008

Health Minister Mary Harney last week confirmed that money has been allocated to fund a national bowel cancer screening programme.
Ireland has the highest rate of bowel cancer mortality in western Europe. A screening programme would mean that patients who need colonoscopies, which are the best way of detecting bowel cancer, would get them within six weeks of seeing their GP.
At last week’s Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, the Health Minister said that €1 million had been allocated to the bowel cancer screening programme, in a move that was welcomed by the opposition.
“We have provided €1 million through the national screening service to prepare for the roll-out of a colorectal cancer screening programme because we are aware that there are huge deficiencies in screening programmes nationally,” she said.
DACC like the Irish Cancer Society has advised patients to contact the NTPF, and like the ICS, DACC reiterates that this should only be a short-term measure given the excessive costs to the state. The ICS believes that the focus should be on recruiting more consultant gastroenterologists in public hospitals, in conjunction with the rollout of a national bowel cancer screening programme.
If you are concerned or have been affected by bowel cancer, please call the National Cancer Helpline on freefone 1800 200700 (open Monday to Thursday 9am – 7pm and Fridays 9am – 5pm).

Donegal Action for Cancer Care were invited

by The Late Late Show & RTE to come down to Dublin as their guests for Friday night 26th September’s show.

This was an opportunity for DACC to once again call on our Government & the HSE to listen to the people of Donegal at National level.

Equally if not more important was the call for our Local Politican’s to listen.

DACC were very clear in their reminder to both the politican’s and Government who had actually put them in their positions!

More important was the reminder by DACC to everyone of the strength and abilites of people power to bring about change.

DACC were given the opportunity by the Late Late to have the last word and so ended with

“ Politican’s & Governments come and go,

Cancer is here to stay,

No child in Ireland should have to grow up without a parent because of cancer” 

Thank you RTE

A sincere thank you also to Marion and the team at

Menary’s in Letterkenny, to Kim and all at Laura Dolan’s Hair Salon for all their help and support to DACC on this occasion.

DACC wish to inform the people of Donegal of a statement received on the 17th October 08 regarding the retention of the Colposcopy Service at Letterkenny General Hospital.

The NCSS Colposcopy Project Team had an extremely constructive meeting with Clinicians and Management at Letterkenny General Hospital yesterday, Thursday 16th October 2008. There was agreement on all the issues pertinent to LGH being a referral centre for colposcopy within the CervicalCheck Programme. Both the project team and hospital management agreed to provide additional resources to enhance the quality assurance of the Colposcopy Service. All parties agreed on a future accommodation plan for the Colposcopy Clinic as a basis for the development of a Service Level Agreement between the National Cancer Screening Service Colposcopy Programme and Letterkenny General Hospital. Interim accommodation arrangements were also agreed.
It was also agreed that LGH will continue to accept Colposcopy referrals prior to the formulisation of arrangements through the Service Level Agreement.

Seán Murphy
General Manager
Letterkenny General Hospital

One-stop shop' to ease travel burden for cancer patients

By Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent Tuesday June 17 2008 Courtesy of The Independent.on line

Efforts will be made to ease the burden on cancer patients forced to travel long distances for treatment by scheduling as many appointments as possible on one day.

Professor Tom Keane, national cancer control director, revealed yesterday that he planned to create a "one-stop shop" for patients who faced lengthy journeys to specialist centres.

The added pressures on ill patients who have to travel to one of the country's eight proposed cancer specialist centres is one of the main planks of opposition to the Government's controversial plans.

"We will try to ensure that people get their appointments as much as possible on a single day to cut down on multiple journeys," he added.

Prof Keane was speaking as the country's first pilot scheme involving volunteer drivers transporting cancer patients to St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin was launched. Up to 111 drivers have offered to provide the free service to patients from south Dublin, Wicklow and north Wexford as part of the 'Care to Drive' scheme.

The pilot scheme will run for about a year before a decision is made on whether it will be rolled out to other areas.

Prof Keane said that such schemes were well established in Canada and had worked extremely well in providing social support and shared experience for patients and drivers. 

DACC are calling on all our County Councillors, TD’s & MEP’s to publicly stand with us to support Radiotherapy at Letterkenny General Hospital on a Cross Border basis.

“We have met with the elected representatives on many occasions seeking support of which we were told we had.

At this stage of our journey we have very serious concerns that plans are not just underway but very much at an advanced stage for the Irish Government to support/ provide Radiotherapy at Altnagelvin Hospital.

This cannot be allowed to happen without consultation and the consent of the people of Donegal.

Our work has always been for Letterkenny General Hospital where we know that best care for cancer patients has been given and should be continued to be provided and built on.

We are calling on you as with the other representatives to publicly stand with us to ensure that Radiotherapy is provided at LGH on a Cross Border basis to serve the people of the North West”.

It is now time for our elected representatives to publicly say where their support is at!

Important Message from the Ambulance Service

N.B.Please note and forward to any family/friends,work mates for their own info also
We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory. If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency?

Hence this 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency) Campaign.
 
The concept of 'ICE' is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As mobile phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name 'ICE' ( In Case Of Emergency). The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents there were always mobile phones with patients but they didn't know which number to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognised name for this purpose.
In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital Staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialling the number you have stored as 'ICE'. Please forward this. It won't take too many 'forwards'> before everybody will know about this. It really could save your life, or put a loved one's mind at rest.
For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc.
Regards,
Occupational Health, Ambulance Services

DACC- Minister Harney plans to outsource cancer services.

Press Release 18th April 08

DACC have serious concerns for the down-grading of all cancer services in Donegal in light of Minister Harney’s announcement 17^th April welcoming a new satellite radiotherapy centre at Altnagelvin.

The Minister also states that “There are clear advantages in further co-operation to enhance services for patients, especially those living in border areas” Officials from the Dept of Health will hold further discussions with their counterparts in Northern Ireland in order to realise the potential of today’s announcement the statement from Minister Harney’s Press Office states.

DACC ask “Does the Minister feel that she can’t provide an excellent service at Letterkenny General Hospital for the people of Northern Ireland?

Will we the people of Donegal have equal access or will we be “spare capacity?”

Will our personnel and services disappear at Letterkenny General Hospital?

Why are the people of Donegal being discriminated against by not being provided with the same excellent cancer care system that is being provided for the rest of the country?

Where has the consultation with the people of the county been?

We ask again why is Cross Border always a one way process out of Donegal?

Why is it that the population figures that make up critical mass only work one way as well, out of Donegal?

Could we be last on the list for funding for our services in Donegal if our Government are spending our money in Northern Ireland?

Are the people of Donegal aware that data from the National Cancer Registry show that Donegal has the highest incidence of cancer in the North West with 874 new cases

The Minister’s statement seems to be with the apparent support of Donegal Politicians.

We ask the people of Donegal to write to our politicians with your concerns and ask why they are prepared to let this happen

DACC ask

 “ Are the people of Donegal aware that data from the National Cancer Registry show that Donegal has the highest incidence of cancer in the

 North West with

 874 new cases”

Radiation - Letterkenny General Hospital!!!

Letterkenny General Hospital - Radiation!!!

We in DACC have a Donegal bias and make no apology for it!

With these figures we ask “Can you blame us for our bias”

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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has."

Anthropologist Margaret Mead (1901-1978)

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DACC are asking members of the public to come forward in response to the urgent plea for platelets. ( Monday 14th April 08)

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service and the Irish Cancer Society have made an urgent plea for more people to come forward and donate platelets, which will help to give life saving treatment to cancer patients.

On average the IBTS issues approximately 90 units of platelets per day (over 500 units per week) to Irish hospitals and 90% of these are used in the treatment of cancer patients.
For more information on becoming a platelet donor text ‘Platelet’ to 53377, email ann.o’leary@ibts.ie or

 telephone 01 432 2833.

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There were ninety eight new cases of prostate cancer in Donegal in 2005

That's according to the latest figures released by the Irish Cancer Society which show that there are approximately 1,370 new cases of prostate cancer in Ireland every year

 Donegal Action for Cancer Care wish to inform men of the importance of going to their GP’s if they have any concerns.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in Irish men, after skin cancer

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Action Prostate Cancer is launching its inaugural Prostate Cancer Awareness Week by revealing results of a national survey of 1,000 men (aged 50+ years) to further establish awareness and understanding of prostate cancer(1). One of the key findings from the survey was that overall, only 37% of respondents claim that their GP is taking action and opening discussions with them on the risk of developing prostate cancer and merits of screening and early detection of prostate cancer.

Courtesy of the Irish Cancer Society website on Tuesday 1st April 08

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DACC ask “are you aware of some of the excellent services we have at Letterkenny General Hospital”?

If not, see some of these listed on our page

Letterkenny General Hospital.

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Letterkenny General Hospital as a Centre of Excellence serving

 the North West of Ireland on a

 Cross Border basis”.

“Nothing limits achievement like small thinking; nothing expands possibilities like unleashed imagination.”
William Arthur Ward

Radiation - Letterkenny General Hospital!!!

Letterkenny General Hospital - Radiation!!!

We in DACC have a Donegal bias and make no apology for it!

If you think you won’t get cancer, you probaly think you don’t need to read this!

Are you aware that when our Government talk about radiation for the North West they are talking about Letterkenny or Altnagelvin Hospitals?

Have you thought about how this will affect our Cancer Patients in Donegal who tomorrow could be you?

Why did 15,000 people stand in the rain and wind in May 06 in the Town Park in Letterkenny?

Were you one of these people?

Please scroll down this page to where “DACC urgently ask”

 for further information.

DACC are asking “Why is our webpage

 “Donegal Politicans Say”

 seriously lacking in comments”

We ask why is this? Are they saying nothing about cancer services for Letterkenny General Hospital, or are we just not receiving their news releases?

**********************************

Ireland has the highest incidence rate of oesophageal cancer in Europe for men and women, affecting between 350 and 400 people a year.

For more information, visit www.lollipopday.ie

“The doctor-patient relationship is one of the most important relationships there is and it needs to be ‘nurtured and protected”, a leading breast cancer expert has said. For more on this please read our page on National News Articles, Feb.

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DACC urgently ask that the people of Donegal make sure that our politicans hear the 4 very important words for cancer care in Donegal at present:

Letterkenny General Hospital - Radiation,

Radiation- Letterkenny General Hospital.

Please, Please, start shouting it from the rooftops!

Write letters to Minister Harney & An Taosieach, Bertie Ahern, whatever it takes, make sure you do your bit.

Can you afford not to?

Why won’t our Irish Government invest our money in Letterkenny General Hospital for radiation services on a Cross Border basis when they are considering spending it elsewhere?

We never said they could, did YOU?

Our Government and politican’s are making decisions for us without consulting with the people it affects AGAIN!

Please scroll down for our list of questions

DACC are asking the following questions and we recommend that you the people of Donegal should ask the same ones of our Government, politicans and our Health Service in the context of developing radiation services in the North West- Letterkenny or Altnagelvin.

Why can’t Cross Border go two ways into Donegal instead of only being a one way process out of Donegal?

What is critical mass and why is it a one way process? We are more than happy to welcome our friends/ neighbours in the 6 Counties to Donegal.

Where are all the people who called for radiation at Letterkenny General Hospital? Indeed the people who’s call DACC was established in response to!

What happened to the fears that cancer services at Letterkenny General would be downgraded if we didn’t get radiation?

Are DACC the only people who want radiation, best care for our patients at our own General Hospital? 

What about our new Breast Surgeon, will he stay if we leave ourselves where cancer services could be downgraded? What will this do for staff morale?

Again we ask, “ Why did 15,000 people stand in the rain and wind in May 06 in the Town Park in Letterkenny?”

Why are our Government so reluctant to build on the “Excellent Services” they tell us that THEY put in Letterkenny General Hospital?

Do they now think that these “Excellent Services” aren’t worth building/investing on/in?

When will it be Donegal’s, a border county affected by 30 years of the troubles in the 6 counties, turn to have an investment by the Irish Government in proportion to the millions they have invested in the 6 counties?

Be clear, paramount to DACC is Best Care for cancer patients but we believe that care can be best provided with radiation at Letterkenny General Hospital on a Cross Border basis to serve the North West, again building on the Excellent Services we already have there.

You see things; and you say 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?' George Bernard Shaw.

DACC agree with George Bernard Shaw’s sentiment, thats how we feel regarding Letterkenny General Hospital as A Centre of Excellence, Why not?

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DACC ask who are making the decisions for our cancer patients in light of us now having Prof. John Crowne’s statement ( Sun 27th Jan 08) regarding the need for a cancer centre in the North West. DACC are inclined to agree with Prof Crowne regarding how decisions are being made. Prof Crowne and Prof Niall O’ Higgins, (Prof O’ Higgins 21st Dec 07) Cancer Specialists, asking questions on how decisions are being made does nothing to reassure DACC that the health & wellbeing of our cancer patients is top of our Governments agenda.

DACC have serious concerns for cancer patients and ask who and how are the decisions made after reading Prof Niall O’ Higgins interview with irishhealth.com where he states that he doesn’t know how the population figures or locations for Centre’s of Excellence came about. Also as travel can be a major issue for cancer patients in the North West what does Prof O’ Higgins mean by “geographical anomalies”?

“The new thinking on the distribution of cancer centres is that it should be one per 500,000 population. I do not really know how this decision was reached, nor do I know how the locations were chosen. It may be a good decision but there seem to be geographical anomalies.”Prof Niall O’ Higgins

Read this interview on our National News Articles page January 08.

DACC say a better underdstanding is needed of how the travel issue affects cancer patients,their families and indeed cancer itself for people living in the North West, in light of Professor Tom Keane’s comments regarding cancer centres and the issue of patients travel.

Professor Tom Keane was addressing the Oireachtas Health Committee and said he was surprised that the debate on national cancer centres has been focused on the issue of patient travel. For what he said please see our page on Local Radio news.

Donegal Action for Cancer Care have serious concerns for the treatment of cancer patients in the North West after reading that Cancer Centre roll-outs are already years behind.

Hundreds of public cancer patients will have to go to private hospitals for vital radiotherapy next year, after the government's roll-out of national centres has fallen years behind schedule.

A new progress report from the Department of Finance has confirmed that specialist radiotherapy centres due to be up and running in Dublin, Cork and Galway by 2011 will not be a reality until 2014.

See our page on National News Articles for more info.

NW patients could wait over two years for Breast Check

Donegal Action for Cancer Care says it is extremely disappointed with news that women in the North West will have to wait for more than two years before they can avail of free Breastcheck.

The Minister for Health Mary Harney announced that Breast Check’s free screening service won't be fully rolled out for another 27 months.

Paddy Hume is a spokesperson for DACC.

He says the group were assured by the government that breast check would be implemented in Donegal by last September.See our page on Local News for Press Release.

DACC are delighted to welcome Prof Tom Keane to his new post. DACC will be updating Prof Keane on their proposal to develop Letterkenny General Hospital as a Centre of Excellence on a Cross Border basis and availing of his expertise as recommended to them by Minister Mary Harney.  

For information on Prof. Tom Keane, Interim Director of the National Cancer Programme visit our page on

National News Articles.

The number of women in Ireland who have died as a result of cervical cancer has increased by 1.5% every year since 1978, the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) has said.

The IFPA is calling on people to sign a ‘Stop Cervical Cancer’ petition at

 http://www.cervicalcancerpetition.eu
 

DACC wish to stress to women how important it is to regularly attend clinics for smear tests and to discuss vaccination with their doctors or nurse if they are unsure about cervical cancer.

DACC meet with Minister Mary Harney in Dublin to propose 9th Centre of Excellence at Letterkenny General Hospital on a Cross Border basis.

Please see page on Cancer Services to read press release, book presentation photo and thoughts on this visit.