Sir, – The National Cancer Control Programme/HSE this week confirmed to GPs the intention to have us involved in the follow-up care of women who have had breast cancer.
They state this is best medical practice and is to be part of a strategy to prevent women unnecessarily attending the specialised breast cancer clinics.
What they have failed to inform the women who hold medical cards is that this preventative care is not covered by the medical card scheme and that they maybe charged for this service by their GP.
It strikes me that this “best practice” is but a cost-saving measure. These women deserve to be told the truth by the HSE/National Cancer Control Programme rather than the usual HSE PR spin. – Yours, etc,
Dr SEAMUS CLARKE,
Clones,
Co Monaghan.