BREAST cancer services
at Letterkenny General Hospital are secure, Co-operating
for Cancer Care NorthWest, CCC(NW) declared last
night after it attended high level talks on Friday.
The group welcomed a "constructive and conciliatory"
round table meeting hosted by the Department of
Health in Hawkins House on Friday to discuss
progress in advancing cancer services in LGH.
The group said it was evident throughout the meeting
that the concerns of breast surgeon Michael Sugrue
and LGH general manager Sean Murphy were heard and
understood.
It said it became clear that the Saolta Hospitals
Group had also been proactive in addressing some of
the reported concerns.
Saolta reiterated its firm commitment and support
the continuation of breast cancer services at LGH.
Decisions were also made to support Mr Sugrue of
which he was satisfied, said CCCNW.
It added that while it was acknowledged that LGH did
not meet the number of breast cancer diagnoses per
year to merit a second breast surgeon, Mr Sugrue's
other work commitments as a general surgeon within
the hospital had to be considered in rostering
arrangements.
“It was agreed at the meeting that the application
for a general surgeon will be submitted by the end
of April, appearing before the committee in May; the
re-advertising of two GP positions for the unit to
help support the current team; the submission of a
locum to be appointed from within the Saolta group.
Discussions will take place over the coming weeks
regarding the arrangements for that locum," said a
CCCNW spokesperson.
"It was also confirmed that the process of
recruiting an advanced nurse practitioner for the
unit had commenced. This post has been approved with
the aim of providing long term support to the unit
and was welcomed by those at the meeting."
Meanwhile, the group also welcomed the advances made
in the construction of the cross-border North West
Radiotherapy Unit at Altnagelvin.
Click here for
Altnagelvin radiotherapy story. |
