At a health debate in Trinity College the Save St Luke’s Campaign in Dublin confronted the Minister over plans to close St Luke’s Cancer Hospital.
CAMPAIGNERS OPPOSING the closure of St Luke’s cancer hospital in Rathgar, Dublin, have criticised the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, for refusing to meet a delegation to discuss the views of patients and relatives on the closure.
The Save St Luke’s Campaign said it has been seeking the meeting with Ms Harney for a number of months. However, it was recently informed that she would not be in a position to meet with the group because of a heavy schedule in the coming months.
The campaigners said her refusal to meet was particularly disappointing because patients had never been consulted in relation to the closure. They would continue to work to keep the hospital open.
“Given the delay in the implementation of the national cancer strategy, and the increase in projected cancer victims in the future, the campaign believes the decision should be reviewed to take account of these changes in circumstances.”
Rory Hearne, Chair of the Save St Luke’s Campaign took the opportunity of the Public Meetingon Tuesday April 8th in Trinity College to give Mary Harney a copy of this letter which outlines the campaign’s concerns.
The following is the text of that letter:
Save St Luke’s Cancer Hospital:Ireland’s national radiotherapy centre
Dear Minister for Health,
The Save St Luke’s Campaign is very disappointed that you are not available to meet a delegation from the campaign despite a number of requests in recent months.
The Save St Luke’s Campaign is requesting a meeting to express the experiences and views of cancer patients and relatives of patients who are very concerned with the Government decision to close the Public St Luke’s Cancer Hospital in Rathgar and replace it with a Public-Private cancer ward in St James’ hospital.
Given the delay in the implementation of the national cancer strategy and the increase in projected cancer victims in the future, the campaign believes the decision to close St Luke’s should be reviewed to take account of these changes in circumstances.
Currently the national Public radiotherapy centre, St Luke’s treats patients from all over Ireland. It has a unique atmosphere and ethos which patients believe will not be replicated elsewhere.
The Save St Luke’s Campaign Dublin has collected thousands of signatures in support of the retention of cancer services in St Luke’s Hospital.
We await you correspondence,
The Save St Luke’s Hospital Campaign
