Service gaps force HSE to delay radiation therapy for 880 cancer patients beyond approved time
Almost 900 cancer patients did not start radiation therapy on time this year, with more than €90m spent since 2020 on sending public patients to private centres for radiation therapy due to gaps in public services.Questions were asked about plans to upgrade machines, including in Cork, during the Oireachtas Health Committee on Wednesday. Radiation therapy is a key part of cancer care and is delivered at specialist centres.Between January and July 2025, roughly 880 people did not start this within the recommended 15 days, Steve Dempsey, director of advocacy and communications of the Irish Cancer Society said.“One patient was waiting 18 weeks after surgery to commence radiotherapy,” he said. “They’d been given no date for a planning appointment and were deeply concerned.” Delays can be linked to older machines being out of action for repairs and shortages of radiation therapists. Senior HSE officials also attended, and Social Democrats TD for Cork South Central Padraig Rice raised this with them.International guidelines indicate 10 years of use is recommended, but he said in Ireland “antiquated machines” remain in use.“In terms of our public machines, eight are already more than 15 years old, two approaching 17 years, and nine will require replacing in the next five years,” he said.
Overall, 75% of the machines require replacing now or in the next five years.
He asked about replacement planning, noting that machines in Cork University Hospital are now six years old already.“Between 2020 and 2024, €75m was spent outsourcing radiation therapy to private providers,” he said. So far this year €17m was spent, he added.HSE deputy CEO, Damien McCallion, said one out of four machines is out of action nationally. He said in other countries, machines can run for longer than 10 years with maintenance.A tender is being prepared for the Rathgar centre in the St Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, including Beaumont hospital, he added. “The plan is to also have a replacement schedule around Cork and Galway,” he said.Professor Risteárd Ó Laoide, national cancer care programme (NCCP) national director, moved to reassure patients, saying the machines are safe.Surgery delays Mr Dempsey also raised concerns around surgery delays. These mean just seven in 10 lung cancer patients have treatment when recommended, only one in two pancreatic cancer patients, and just one in three prostate cancer patients.In addition, just six in 10 breast cancer patients get treatment on time.Dr Tríona McCarthy, NCCP assistant national director, said one reason cancer numbers are rising is that older people are more likely to develop cancers. More people are living longer now in Ireland than before.However, she told Kerry Fianna Fáil TD Michael Cahill: “We say that 30% to 50% of cancers are preventable. So when you’re looking at alcohol, tobacco use, weight, physical activity, it’s very important for people to understand there are things they can do to reduce their risks.”
