THE MOTHER of a 17-year-old Co Roscommon girl who has waited months for radiation therapy following the removal of a cancerous tumour yesterday described the family's experience as a nightmare.
Pauline McLoughlin, from Tulsk, said that her daughter, Kerry Ann, had part of her thyroid removed last July at University College Hospital, Galway, because she had a cancerous tumour.
After a second operation in August last year, to make sure the cancer had not spread, doctors said that she needed radio-iodine ablation treatment.
"She has been waiting since for that," her mother said.
She explained that the family was informed that Kerry Ann would be sent to St Bartholomew's Hospital in London for the specialised treatment.
However when they heard nothing they phoned the hospital, only to find she was not on its treatment list.
Then they were told she would be treated at St Luke's in Dublin, only to discover she was not on the treatment list there either.
When the mix-up was discovered, she was seen in St Luke's in March.
However, she was then told the waiting list was so long she would not be able to receive treatment until this September.
Pauline McLoughlin said that her daughter's energy levels were now very low and she slept a lot. "It's a nightmare . . . it's not fair for her to be left waiting like this," her mother said.
HSE West said that the treatment the girl required was not available in Galway.
"This patient has an appointment in St Luke's Hospital in August and is on a priority list for an earlier appointment, should one become available," it said.
It is understood that efforts are now being made to find an earlier appointment for her in Belfast.