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Seanad
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Bowel cancer waiting times

Summary

Senator Nelson Murray highlighted bowel cancer waiting times, saying the target is 28 days and contrasting national concern with strong recent performance in Navan.

The Irish Cancer Society is in the news today. We met its representatives last week and had a very good engagement over in Buswells Hotel where they were giving us some numbers. I wanted to home in on bowel cancer. There are 2,500 people diagnosed with bowel cancer each year in Ireland. The target for the Irish Cancer Society is that not one patient should wait more than 28 days. Last year, in Our Lady's Hospital Navan, over the whole year 400 people waited more than 28 days. However, in quarter 1 of this year, not one patient waited more than 28 days in Navan hospital for an urgent colonoscopy. I commend the manager, the staff and everybody in the hospital on that. We are very proud of our hospital in Navan. When I saw the numbers it got me thinking about the rapidly growing population in County Meath. Navan hospital always needs to be strengthened, not sidelined. We need investment in that to grow with the population that is growing in Meath, and that Meath people have a hospital that grows with their needs and does not fall behind. I am discussing this with the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. I think every political person who comes from Meath will always want to push for Navan hospital to be continually invested in. I acknowledge the great work the hospital has done when it comes to colonoscopies in the first quarter of this year. I wish the hospital well in its ongoing work in that space and we must ensure we continue the investment in that hospital.

In my last 25 seconds, I say to everyone in this room as we go into recess today that it has been an absolute pleasure to work with them. We have had amazing debates in here from all sides of the Chamber. Everybody, without a shadow of a doubt, is a pleasure to work with. We can achieve things together whether we are in opposition or in government. I thank everybody. It is really nice to come in to the Chamber and I look forward to it every Tuesday. I wish everyone a very nice summer. I hope they drop loads of leaflets, go out to their constituents, talk to them all and fill the air with loads of positivity.

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