May 2016 Brief overview of DACC to all
Key European Parliament Personnel.
European Commission
Communication from the Commission
On effective, accessible & resilient health systems.
Health systems must be accessible. This is one of the principles stated in the European Social Charter, which emphasises the importance of transparent criteria for access to medical treatment and the obligation for States to have adequate healthcare system which does not exclude parts of the population from receiving healthcare services.
Patients should have reasonable access to health care services:
they should not have to travel to far or wait to long to access the service they need.
Problems relating to distance could be overcome through more integrated models of care, which improve contact between patients & the health system and through wider uptake of health solutions.
DACC are asking please for your support with the following in particular Donegal’s geographical position easily visible from our map.
Immediate key issues for DACC while provided with this great opportunity in Brussels are:
- Highlighting our unique geographical position in relation to the 8 Centres of Excellence, no railway, no motorway! Donegal does not have reasonable access to health care services that have been either reduced or removed primarily due to lack of support & resources to meet the needs of the population of over 161,000. Donegal has to travel serious distances to access treatments & services in Galway Centre of Excellence.
- Please look at our map on the previous page.
We ask please that this geographical position of Donegal be recognised at European level.
Letterkenny Hospital should be the 9th Centre of Excellence in Ireland.
2) The appointment system for referrals to the Breast Unit at Letterkenny University Hospital was changed at start of 2015. Appointments were allocated to patients 5 days per week by the staff at the Breast Unit at Letterkenny Hospital. The system now in place is that the Breast Unit at Letterkenny daily sends the appointment requests to Galway University Hospital daily where the Lead Breast Consultant allocates appointments twice a week. DACC are asking your support to have this reversed back to Letterkenny Hospital as it had operated well for approx. 10 years. This new system is not working and is definitely not in the best interest of Donegal Breast Cancer Patients or indeed the Breast Unit at LGH.
Presently there are approx. 600 patients waiting on an appointment at Letterkenny.
3) Re re-introduction of Prostate/ Urology Surgery at Letterkenny Hospital. Urology patients are presently having their surgery at Letterkenny Hospital. Urology patients who have been on the waiting list for 1.5 years are now being referred to other hospitals.
There are approx. 800 Prostate Cancer patients who are not presently being seen.
DACC believe that the Saolta University Hospital Group who has responsibility for the Western Hospital area is not working in the best interest of Letterkenny Hospital & Donegal cancer patients & services. Key cancer services are being removed from Letterkenny Hospital.
Donegal Action for Cancer Care wish to extend our sincere thanks to
Martina Anderson MEP Sinn Fein for providing us with this very important opportunity.
We hope that you important people in Brussels that we have met will please take our concerns and raise them at the highest level including also the Irish Government.
I would welcome please an update from you on these matters especially regarding Donegal cancer patients & other patient’s exclusion & discrimination due to our geographical position.
We are asking that the key cancer & other services at Letterkenny University Hospital are retained, re-instated, maintained & resourced to meet the health needs of the people of Donegal, Ireland.
Thank you.
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The above questions in a detailed document were also sent by post from DACC to
Mairead Mc Guinness MEP, The Public Health & Food Safety Committee, the other 3 MEP’S Luke Ming Flanagan Matt Carthy, Marian Harkin &
Key European Parliament Personnel with above questions that we took to Brussels.
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Meeting with Minister for Health Mr. Simon Harris TD
at Letterkenny University Hospital Monday 12th December 2016
European Commission-
On effective, accessible and resilient health systems.
Health systems must be accessible. This is one of the principles stated in the European Social Charter, which emphasises the importance of transparent criteria for access to medical treatment and the obligation for States to have adequate healthcare system which does not exclude parts of the population from receiving healthcare services.
Aim of this meeting
To ask you Minister Harris TD please to help & support us by arranging the very long overdue follow up meeting at the Dept. of Health in same format as before, implement a practice where meetings of this type can happen 3 times per year & to address the major issues that affect/ impact on Letterkenny University Hospital, its patients, staff & services.
12th December 2016
Dear Minister Harris,
DACC know the excellence that exists at Letterkenny University Hospital.
Letterkenny Hospital has been a leader in many areas it’s staff, service provision, developments & research for many years. LUH continues to be. Today is another fine example of this. DACC make no apology for our commitment to best practice quality care & excellence for Donegal patients.
Letterkenny Hospital has not over many years received the level of funding that it should have. It has been discriminated against for a very long time. Minister Harris as you know there are very many questions & matters that needs to be addressed.
This we believe can be best happen at a further meeting at the Dept. of Health. We request please that this meeting happen no later than end of Feb. 2017.
We are asking you please to put a system in place that we can all go to the Dept. of Health 3 times per year in the same format as 2015 meetings and be briefed on what is happening, have our questions addressed & discuss our concerns. We suggest Feb, July & end November?
We would expect that those key professionals would attend meetings at the Dept. of Health on a regular basis as part of their work accountability so no extra impact on their working week. We are repeatedly told of commitment to LUH we must now see it. Actions not words
This would mean that key professionals that we are in contact with regarding ongoing concerns etc. will be better able to address these and as before we in Donegal can be better informed to pass this information onto the public.
We wish to say a very sincere Thank You for meeting with us today & are very hopefully that you will assist us in these matters please.
We have outlined some of our questions & concerns on next page.
Yours Sincerely,
________________ __________________ _____________________
Rose Boylan Mary Mc Daid Betty Holmes
Some of the questions & concerns not them all:
*Overdue follow up meeting from 20th Aug 2015 at the Dept. of Health in same format.
*No update from Saolta on agreed actions as agreed 3 months after meeting 20th August 2015.
*The Oncology Department at LUH- vacant senior position in the Oncology Department. Why hasn’t this been addressed? Impact on patients, staff & service putting extra pressure on the Oncology Department.
*Urology Services Strategy to have been completed at end of 2015- copy requested by DACC from Saolta 19th Sept 2016
*Prostate Rapid Access Clinic at LUH- told by Cancer Control Programme Sept 2016 wouldn’t happen!! Prostate Cancer Services for Donegal men, Minister we are aware that there are some new developments at LUH with this
*Geographical catchment area for access to Radiotherapy at Altnagelvin for south Donegal cancer patients- reply from Dr. Hynes stating that they go to Galway.
*Will Breastcheck patients who have their surgery in Galway also not be able to access Radiotherapy at Altnagelvin?
*The Breast Cancer Services at LUH- 2nd Surgeon? New cancers in excess of 80+
*The long waiting lists for appointments & surgery at LUH (including the restriction now of one day theatre list per surgeon for January),
*The Cardiac Services at LUH- Waiting times for angiograms & appointments
*Has the General Adult Social Work at LUH posts been advertised? What action has been taken to address this important matter?
*DACC request to you Minister to have an input/ consultation re Dáil Health System Committee 10 year plan. We know they are now asking for an extension till April.
Thank you Minister Harris & your team for meeting with us today at Letterkenny University Hospital.
We do not take your time for granted.
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