Letterkenny University Hospital was the lowest-performing hospital in Ireland for meeting cancer treatment targets last year, a new investigation has revealed.
Just 12% of cancer patients at the hospital received treatment within the recommended 15-working-day timeframe.
The hospital consistently fell short of the 90% benchmark set under the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP).
In February, it was also revealed that Letterkenny cancer patients had to wait 50% longer than any other hospital in the HSE West and North West Region.
A series of protests this year saw hundreds of people stand alongside Inishowen woman Roseena Toner Doherty to demand improvements in cancer treatment facilities at Letterkenny University Hospital.
The hospital says it has been working to address the situation amid a multifactorial increase in demand for cancer services.
The HSE has acknowledged that the LUH Haematology / Oncology Day Ward “is particularly challenged” with respect to meeting the key performance indicator (KPI) targets for Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) start times.
Short-term plans to enhance capacity in LUH included adding for additional treatment bays as an extension to the day ward situated on the in-patient floor.
In recent months, this resulted in significant improvements in the KPIs in Q1 of 2025. In both March and April 2025, 79% of patients received
their SACT within the KPI.
A spokesperson for the HSE said that “personal choice and medical reasons accounted for the outliers.”
A HSE statement released today said: “Typically the aim is to initiate systemic therapy including chemotherapy within 4 – 8 weeks following surgery. However, there are many reasons why patients may have longer wait times for chemotherapy after surgery including, ensuring patients have recovered sufficiently and are fit for treatment. This is important to ensure patients respond to treatment in the best possible way. Earlier treatment post-surgery has not been shown to render better outcomes, and the priority is on the patient’s recovery post-surgery.”
HSE West and North West is continuing to progress a capital plan across the region, which include proposals for significant investment at LUH.
The HSE is developing a business case for a new, stand-alone Ambulatory Care Centre in Letterkenny. This facility will offer outpatient services, including expanded capacity for cancer care (Haematology Oncology Day Unit, Symptomatic Breast Cancer Unit), an Ambulatory Urology Facility, and additional diagnostic and surgical services. This project aligns with the strategic vision for the Letterkenny University Hospital campus, with clinical health planning already underway.
“Work has already commenced on the clinical health planning study for LUH and this standalone facility will align with the strategic vision of the follow on Development Control Plan (DCP) for the campus,” the statement said.
“The hospital will be making every effort to secure the funding and progress this significant capital development on the LUH campus in as expedient a manner as possible.”
