Cancer delays are causing avoidable deaths – that is the stark warning from the Irish Cancer Society today as it highlights delays in cancer tests and treatment across Ireland.
Last year, Letterkenny University Hospital was the lowest-performing hospital in Ireland for meeting cancer treatment targets.
Just 12% of cancer patients at the hospital received treatment within the recommended 15-working-day timeframe.
In both June and November 2024, zero cancer patients at LUH commenced treatment within the recommended time.
While work is underway to improve the situation, the hospital says the Haematology / Oncology Day Ward “is particularly challenged” with meeting target times.
The Irish Cancer Society says there are concerning delays for patients who have been referred for urgent breast and prostate tests.
Between March 2024 and February 2025, 59.8% of patients got an appointment at the urgent symptomatic breast clinic in Letterkenny within the recommended timeframe of two weeks, with just 5% of patients being seen on time in December 2024.
The figure is improving this year, with the Letterkenny Breast Centre offering urgent appointments to 76.0% of patients within 10 working days.
The longest wait that a non-urgent breast clinic patient had in Letterkenny in the past year was 276 days.
The Irish Cancer Society is calling for increased investment in Budget 2026 in cancer staff, buildings and equipment to ensure target waiting times are met.
“Early treatment dramatically reduces your risk of dying from cancer,” says Irish Cancer Society CEO Averil Power.
“A person’s chances of surviving cancer are up to four times higher when treated at Stage 1 than at Stage 4. That’s why the National Cancer Strategy set target waiting times for cancer tests and treatment.
“Today’s figures highlight alarming failures to meet those targets in many cancer centres, due to shortages of staff, physical space, and equipment. They also reveal a shocking postcode lottery in Irish cancer care, with where you live determining how quickly you can access lifesaving tests and treatment.”
Power added: “With the number of people getting cancer set to double by 2045, things will only get worse if Government doesn’t significantly increase investment in cancer staff, equipment, and buildings in Budget 2026.”
Dr Michael McCarthy, President, Irish Society of Medical Oncology (ISMO) and Consultant Medical Oncologist at University Hospital Galway, said: “Working in the West of Ireland, I see the human cost of the postcode lottery in Irish cancer care every day. Once chemotherapy is prescribed, the National Cancer Strategy states that it should start within fifteen working days. With every week that passes, the risk increases that their cancer will grow, or worse that it will spread to other parts of their body.”
The HSE says that Letterkenny University Hospital has been working to address the situation amid a multifactorial increase in demand for cancer services.
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 Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) within the KPI.
A spokesperson for the HSE said that “personal choice and medical reasons accounted for the outliers.”
A HSE statement released on Monday regarding cancer treatment times stated: “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.”
