Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, has said that she understands the unique journeys of Donegal cancer patients and the need for better services locally.
The Minister, who met with local campaigners in Letterkenny today, said she understands Donegal’s experiences are “on a deeper level”.
Long-time campaigners Betty Homes and Noelle Duddy, along with Mary Orr and Roseena Doherty Toner, met with the Minister to highlight the disadvantages faced by patients in the north west.
Speaking after the meeting, Minister Carroll MacNeill, said that she is in support of plans to expand services at Letterkenny University Hospital.
The plans include an ambulatory care centre to house systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT), which includes chemotherapy.
“I have been aware of the depth of feeling in relation to cancer care services – the need for better services, the distances that people have to travel and how to provide better care,” the Minister said.
In February, wait times for chemotherapy at LUH were found to be the longest in the HSE west and north west region. It’s understood that treatment times have been addressed by hospital management, and as of last week, up to 79% of patients are now being treated within the recommended timeframe of 15 days.
On cancer services at LUH, the Minister commented: “They have done some really good work in the last number of weeks to change work practices and to improve services so that, for example, people are getting their chemotherapy at a much earlier stage.
“I believe that the HSE and the team locally here are developing plans to come to the HSE about certain expansions that I hope will make a significant difference.”
Inishowen cancer survivor Roseena Doherty Toner, who has led three protests at the gates of LUH this year, came out of the meeting with optimism.
She said: “It is great that the Minister knows what is going on. I am delighted that we have gotten this chance to let her know that we are up here, we exist and we need better services.”

Cancer Care Campaigners Roseena Doherty Toner, Mary Orr, Betty Holmes and Noelle Duddy
Roseena presented a petition to the Minister, with 1,200 signatures supporting her campaign for a standalone cancer care unit at LUH.
She said: “The first step the hospital needs is a massive injection of funds, to the tune of €100 million, we need the ambulatory care centre that will house the cancer care facilities that we are looking for, and there are other things needed across the whole county. It is a case of getting the funding for everybody.”
Reflecting on the meeting with the Minister, Roseena said: “We are happy with the outcome of today and hope there will be results.
“There is a plan for the expansion of the hospital and an ambulatory care centre where the cancer care services will be housed.
“If we keep pushing it on, we do feel we will eventually get to the end and we will hopefully not have to wait too many more years.”