An action group campaigning for better cancer services in the northwest has not ruled out running a candidate in the next general election.
Donegal Action for Cancer Care (DACC) said yesterday it was asking its elected representatives to do the job they were elected to do and back them in their fight for better services.
But if DACC's concerns were not addressed it would have to sit down and explore all its options, its spokeswoman Noelle Duddy said.
This could include fielding a candidate in the next election. "We will discuss it at that stage," she said.
However, she is hopeful following a meeting with officials from the Health Service Executive in Dublin yesterday that at least some of its concerns will be addressed soon.
The meeting with HSE officials, including the head of the National Hospitals Office John O'Brien, lasted about three hours. "No decision was made but we had a frank and honest discussion," Ms Duddy said.
She said a particular concern is that the medical board of Letterkenny General Hospital is to suspend services for new breast cancer patients from June 1st unless a permanent breast sur-geon is appointed to the hospital.
It is also concerned that women in Donegal are still not able to avail of the BreastCheck screening service and they have to travel to Dublin for radiotherapy, often leaving young families behind for several weeks at a time.
In addition they want the HSE to fund better transport services for those who have to travel for treatment.
Ms Duddy said that because Letterkenny hospital treated about 70 breast cancer cases a year, it had been proposed it develop links with either Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry or University College Hospital in Galway to share expertise. The HSE is to look at these options before the end of June, she said.
She added that a weekend rally attended by thousands of people campaigning for better services in Donegal seemed to have "really focused the minds of politicians and the HSE".
Alan Moran, the manager of the HSE's northwest hospital network, described the meeting as positive.
He said it was well recognised that smaller units such as Letterkenny benefited from teaming up with larger specialist centres and the HSE was looking at possible links for Letterkenny with other hospitals treating breast cancer.
"We are looking for a solution that allows breast surgery to be retained in Letterkenny," he said.
"The HSE has given a definite commitment that a resolution will be found by the end of June," Mr Moran added.
He hopes the medical board at the hospital will put off its plan to suspend services for new breast cancer patients until then.