Madam, – The National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) has issued a directive stating that, as of August 6th, Sligo General Hospital will no longer accept new symptomatic breast referrals. GPs are being directed to send all new referrals after this date to University Hospital Galway.
The Breast Cancer Unit at Sligo General Hospital has consistently been shown to operate to the highest of international standards. In the future, Sligo patients will have to make a 300km round trip to access a service, which at best, will be identical to what has been available locally.
We strongly support the vision of the national cancer strategy and in particular the concept of equitably accessible services. We differ only in how best to implement the strategy in our region. We believe this will be best achieved by retaining and enhancing the existing multidisciplinary breast cancer services in Sligo General and networking the service with a designated centre.
It is the considered opinion of the local general practitioners and the consultant staff of Sligo General Hospital that the NCCP directive is wrong because it risks compromising patient care rather than enhancing it.
Even at this late stage we would ask that this directive be postponed to allow further discussion. The people of the North West should not be asked to accept second best in the national interest. – Yours, etc,