Sir, - In her letter of August 26th, Brenda Wheeler welcomes the Irish Cancer Society's initiative in introducing six hospital. based oncology nurse specialists to provide psychological support to cancer patients and their families, as reported recently in "Well & Good". However, she makes the valid point that because they are so few, these nurses will be unable to provide support to the vast majority of the 15,000 people in Ireland who develop cancer each year.
We agree wholeheartedly with Ms Wheeler. This new service, introduced in response to the growing demand for greater, psychological care for cancer patients, is very much a pioneering first step. While we hope to develop the service further over the coming years, it would be impossible for us, as a charity relying entirely on public, generosity, to provide adequate psychological support to every cancer patient in the country.
Our resources are already overstretched. In addition to funding cancer research and health promotion, the society spends £1.1 million daffodil funds every year providing direct support to people with cancer. This support "includes a nationwide free homecare nursing service, free night nursing for seriously ill patients, the freephone cancer helpline (1800 200 700) and cancer nurse education.
There is a huge need for improved psychological support for people with cancer. Such support must be recognised as an integral part of their treatment; it is too important to be left solely to charity funding. We urge the Minister for Health to give this vital area the priority and funding it deserves in his forthcoming National Cancer Policy. - Yours, etc.,
Chief Executive,
Irish Cancer Society, 5 Northumberland Road,
Dublin 4.