Campaigners for radiotherapy services in the south-east have called on the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, to intervene and provide a "letter of comfort" similar to the one he wrote to SIPTU before the Aer Rianta strike was called off this week. Alison Healy reports.
Up to 7,000 people joined a protest march in Waterford yesterday over the lack of cancer services in the region. It was organised by the Waterford Council of Trade Unions to coincide with Daffodil Day, the Irish Cancer Society's biggest annual fundraising campaign.
A recent Government strategy on radiotherapy services indicated that Waterford Regional Hospital would not be getting a radiotherapy unit.
Ms Jane Bailey, spokeswoman for Cancer Care Alliance, said the Government wanted to characterise the campaign as a local issue. "But this is a regional issue.This affects 422,000 people in the south-east. This is only going to get bigger and bigger," she said.
The protesters were determined to make the campaign for radiotherapy and improved oncology services a major issue in the forthcoming elections.
Meanwhile, the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) has warned that pressure on cancer support services will increase dramatically as people live longer and more survive the illness.
Mr John McCormack, the ICS chief executive, said people's chances of developing cancer doubled for every 10 years they lived. In addition, the population was ageing quickly, and people were living longer after contracting cancer, due to improved treatment. An estimated 21,000 people will develop cancer this year, and 7,800 will die from the disease. One in three will develop cancer at some stage, many after the age of 65.
All these factors combined to put pressure on the support services provided by the Irish Cancer Society, Mr McCormack said.
The society was on target to raise €3.3 million from Daffodil Day this year, an increase of €300,000 on last year's event.
Some 5,000 volunteers sold millions of fresh daffodils and silk buttonholes around the State yesterday in the Bank of Ireland-sponsored event.
The money will be used to provide free specialist nursing care for people with cancer, and their families. Its night nursing service for terminally ill people being cared for at home is fully funded by Daffodil Day. The day also funds the provision of 18 oncology liaison nurses and provides funding for the National Cancer Helpline (1800 200 700).
The free helpline operates from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday.