Assurances sought on emergency treatment for Mayo cancer patients

A Mayo elected representative has sought assurances on the arrangements in place at Galway University Hospital to facilitate cancer patients who need urgent treatment.

Councillor Michael Kilcoyne said the treatment was not available at Mayo University Hospital, which is not a cancer centre of excellence.

He sought information in regard to how many beds are available at the Galway hospital, which is the centre of excellence, for such an emergency and what is the maximum length of time a patient might have to wait.

In response, Ann Cosgrove, Interim CEO, Saolta University Health Care Group, outlined: "The consultants/clinical nurse specialists (CNS) in Castlebar will contact the consultant/CNS/ bed management team in Galway to inform them of the urgent request for treatment and patients are placed on the urgent transfer list.

"All necessary staff are copied on these emails. There is currently a pathway being developed in this respect.

"In the Claddagh, haematology ward, there are 25 beds, two of which are protected beds.

"In St. Joseph's oncology ward, there are 26 beds, three of which are protected beds.

"The protected beds are used for elective list of patients awaiting admission for their chemotherapy.

"CNMs on each ward contact patients regarding theses admissions.

"However, on some occasions, these patients' elective chemos are delayed as bed management may decide patients in ED/ urgent transfers take priority.

"We also utilise general medical or surgical beds on other wards within the hospital for these patients when there is no capacity available on the dedicated haematology/oncology wards. However this is also dependant on bed availability.

"Admission of these patients is reviewed on a patient by patient basis and their clinical priority as decided by the consultant and is also dependant on bed availability."