According to RTÉ.ie, People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett used his first speech since returning to the Dáil to urge full resourcing and sustained support for cancer services following his successful treatment for throat cancer.
Back in the chamber for the first time since April, the Dún Laoghaire TD focused his remarks on the state of radiation oncology, crediting the technology behind his care and its role in patient survival
“linear accelerators… [have] basically given me my life back.”
He underscored the scale of need, pointing out that cancer touches a vast share of the population each year and that tens of thousands receive a diagnosis annually
“50% of people will have an encounter with cancer during their lives. 44,000 people will get a cancer diagnosis.”
Turning to equipment, he warned that a significant portion of the country’s radiotherapy machines are well beyond their recommended lifespan, with many due for replacement soon; this, he said, heightens strain on both patients and staff who rely on timely, reliable treatment
“there’s a lot of discomfort, stress for patients and staff who need this lifesaving treatment.”
To address the gaps, Mr Boyd Barrett called for a national radiotherapy replacement programme with central oversight, pooled procurement, and ring-fenced multi-annual funding so that upgrades are planned, predictable, and not dependent on year-to-year budget bids
“so they don’t have to come each year with a begging bowl for money to provide this absolutely vital machinery to save lives.”
Responding for the Government, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Jack Chambers said progress since the National Cancer Strategy was introduced has improved outcomes and that recent reforms aim to build a health service capable of meeting workforce and technology needs
“What we’ve tried to do in recent years is to build and resource a public health system that responds to the need from a workforce perspective.”
Minister Chambers noted an expansion of the health workforce in recent years and said Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is working with the HSE on an investment plan to address capital requirements, including radiation oncology and equipment replacement
“We as a Government have prioritised funding our health system, more workers, more beds and technological improvements.”
Three-Quarters of Ireland’s Radiotherapy Machines Are Aging Out