A letter from a consultant work in Cork University Hospital reveals a shocking picture of suffering by cancer patients in the south, the Labour Party claimed today.
The letter from Dr Seamus O'Reilly, a consultant medical oncologist, was leaked to the Irish Examinernewspaper today.
It details a series of problems with cancer services in the former southern health board region including patients not being admitted because of a shortage of beds and inadequate computer systems to track patients.
Dr O'Reilly also claims that he had brought these concerns to the attention of the Health Service Executive (HSE) earlier this year but that no action was taken.
The Labour Party said: "It is simply not acceptable that seriously ill cancer patients should be forced to remain at home, simply because the only alternative is a trolley in an overcrowded A&E Department."
In a statement issued this morning the HSE said a number of steps to improve cancer care in the southern region have been taken and that around €25 million had been spent to improve cancer services in the region over the past three years.
Development of the next stage of a €47 million oncology, cardiac and renal unit at Cork University Hospital (CUH) would include 30 beds for cancer patients was given the go-ahead two weeks ago and construction is due to start in the middle of next year.
The HSE also said that a number of appointments in cancer care were in progress. It said a third radiation oncologist had recently been appointed and a fourth post was due to be advertised in the near future.
It also noted that "all issues that have been raised by Dr O'Reilly are under discussion with CUH hospital management or the regional network manager".