Leitrim Local Elections '08

[hopi watcher]

Say what you like, the centre of excellence approach is the best option to ensure that the mistakes of the past dont happen again.

In time the "Locals" will come to agree with this. I understand that the travel issue is a big concern for patients but you will find that anyone with a brain in their head knows deep down that Diagnosis and Surgery at Galway and limerick will be of the highest standard.

Travel or not, i know where i'd like to be diagnosed! If a hospital does not have the throughput of patients, it simply cannot ensure excellence in the true sense of the word.

SGH is a fine Hospital, i know because i worked their for many years. I am sure it will continue to provide many complementary cancer services to the people of the North West after Diagnosis and surgery are undertaken in the centres of excellence.

Your posts suggets that ALL cancer services are being cut. This is simply not the case.

In relation to your acqusations regarding Orthopaedic cases, where is your figures??

Sligo General is a centre of excellance judged by any yardstick. Regarding Galway, have you even bothered to read the recent HIQA report? And it sure is strange that a person living in the region sees no problems with a cancer strategy that will have no 'centre of excellence' at all north of the Dublin-Galway line. Regarding Orthpaedics, if you worked at Sligo, lift the phone and ask. You should also visit the Save Sligo Cancer Services site, all the information that you don't seem to have is there. The campaign collected over 40,000 signatures which were handed in to the Dail and make no mistake, if the cancer services are moved and the co-location private hospital goes ahead, the public will be canvassed to vote against all government candidates in the next 'locals'

[The Crook]

Leitrim local elections? Let me guess, a bunch of reationary culchies who can't see beyond FF or FG.

[Galeforce]

Sligo General is a centre of excellance judged by any yardstick.

No Its not.

Some Key features of a Centre of Excellence:

1) Specialist breast units should serve a population of around 300,000 to 350,000
2) Specialist breast units should care for at least 150 newly diagnosed patients each year
3) Individual consultant surgeons should treat a minimum of 50 new patients with breast cancer each year
4) Radiographers should perform at least 20 breast X-rays (mammograms) per week
5) Consultant radiologists should report at least 1000 breast X-rays (mammograms) per year

NONE of this applies to SGH. I could go on but im sure you get my drift.

[quote:qd8lm497]It sure is strange that a person living in the region sees no problems with a cancer strategy that will have no 'centre of excellence' at all north of the Dublin-Galway line.

I hear what you are saying but please dont be another one of these guys that never left thr north west and thinks that "Them bucks above in Dublin" should provide a Hospital at every crossroads. You simply cannot have this. A hospital with less than 150 new cases of Breast Cancer per year is not sustainable - Not from a financial point of view bur from a diagnostics and treatment point of view. The doctors are simply not experienced enough. Mistakes have and will happen. FACT!

Regarding Orthpaedics, if you worked at Sligo, lift the phone and ask.

It is not up to me to substaniate one of your acqusations. Dont make wild allgataions without solid back up.

You should also visit the Save Sligo Cancer Services site, all the information that you don't seem to have is there. The campaign collected over 40,000 signatures which were handed in to the Dail

And a lot of good it did them. It would suit you better to put your time and efforts in developing the local logistics in order to make the transition and transportation to the new centres easier on those effected. You should work with the local Cllrs TDs etc.

I hate Parish Politics.
[/quote:qd8lm497]

[hopi watcher]

Sligo General is a centre of excellance judged by any yardstick.

No Its not.

Some Key features of a Centre of Excellence:

1) Specialist breast units should serve a population of around 300,000 to 350,000
2) Specialist breast units should care for at least 150 newly diagnosed patients each year
3) Individual consultant surgeons should treat a minimum of 50 new patients with breast cancer each year
4) Radiographers should perform at least 20 breast X-rays (mammograms) per week
5) Consultant radiologists should report at least 1000 breast X-rays (mammograms) per year

NONE of this applies to SGH. I could go on but im sure you get my drift.

[quote:81fqsk7x]It sure is strange that a person living in the region sees no problems with a cancer strategy that will have no 'centre of excellence' at all north of the Dublin-Galway line.

I hear what you are saying but please dont be another one of these guys that never left thr north west and thinks that "Them bucks above in Dublin" should provide a Hospital at every crossroads. You simply cannot have this. A hospital with less than 150 new cases of Breast Cancer per year is not sustainable - Not from a financial point of view bur from a diagnostics and treatment point of view. The doctors are simply not experienced enough. Mistakes have and will happen. FACT!

[quote:81fqsk7x] Regarding Orthpaedics, if you worked at Sligo, lift the phone and ask.

It is not up to me to substaniate one of your acqusations. Dont make wild allgataions without solid back up.

You should also visit the Save Sligo Cancer Services site, all the information that you don't seem to have is there. The campaign collected over 40,000 signatures which were handed in to the Dail

And a lot of good it did them. It would suit you better to put your time and efforts in developing the local logistics in order to make the transition and transportation to the new centres easier on those effected. You should work with the local Cllrs TDs etc.

I hate Parish Politics.
[/quote:81fqsk7x][/quote:81fqsk7x]

Yes Sligo is a centre of excellence. Outcomes are the key factor. Sligo has outcomes that are equal to any other place you care to mention. Show if this is not the case.

Who suggested that there should be a hospital at 'every crossroads'. We are taliking here about a hospital in a gateway city with excellent outcomes for patients. And again I repeat, the plan has no centre north of a line from Galway to Dublin.

The Orthopaedic situation is a clear indication that you haven't a clue what you are talking about. A person who claimed to have worked at SGH could easily lift the phone and get the facts. I challange you again to do so.

Your comment about the petition is deplorable. People are not to be listened to. Accept that the sick must face horrendous travel times to get treatment. You are a right piece of work. The Greens know whats best. A mistake that HQ will come to realise come election day.

[driver08]

And a lot of good it did them. It would suit you better to put your time and efforts in developing the local logistics in order to make the transition and transportation to the new centres easier on those effected. You should work with the local Cllrs TDs etc.

I hate Parish Politics.

I think that a major part of the issue is that the cancer services are being withdrawn before the proper infrastructure is put in place to make travel to Galway and Limerick a more feasible and comfortable option for patients. If patients are expected to travel to a centre of excellence the least they should expect, having to endure the inconvenience of travelling further to get the services they require, is that there would be a decent rail and road network to Galway and Limerick. As it stands there is no train service from Sligo to Galway or Limerick, and no train services north of Sligo at all, and no motorway of any kind. The cart is most definitely being put before the horse in this regard. You provide the infrastructure to make travel a feasible and undaunting option first, then you create the centres of excellence. It shouldn't be up to the people to agitate for something as basic as a decent mode of transport to these centres of excellence. It should already exist, and should have been included as an inter-departmental approach to the issue of cancer services.

[fatcat]

Mary Bohan will be in trouble in Dromahaire.
McElgunn will also do well to hold on in Carrick.
Sinn Féin will likely take Bohan seat and could be in the mix in Carrick on Shannon (however final seat will probably stay within FF)

With regard to not having any TDs from the county - have a look at the voting pattern. 10 FF seats, 8 FG seats and 2 SF.
You need to ask yourselves what have FF and FG done for you. The civil war is over, try voting for a party that work hard for your vote. FF and FG sitting far too comfortably in places like Leitrim.

[fatcat]

Double Post

[hopi watcher]

And a lot of good it did them. It would suit you better to put your time and efforts in developing the local logistics in order to make the transition and transportation to the new centres easier on those effected. You should work with the local Cllrs TDs etc.

I hate Parish Politics.

I think that a major part of the issue is that the cancer services are being withdrawn before the proper infrastructure is put in place to make travel to Galway and Limerick a more feasible and comfortable option for patients. If patients are expected to travel to a centre of excellence the least they should expect, having to endure the inconvenience of travelling further to get the services they require, is that there would be a decent rail and road network to Galway and Limerick. As it stands there is no train service from Sligo to Galway or Limerick, and no train services north of Sligo at all, and no motorway of any kind. The cart is most definitely being put before the horse in this regard. You provide the infrastructure to make travel a feasible and undaunting option first, then you create the centres of excellence. It shouldn't be up to the people to agitate for something as basic as a decent mode of transport to these centres of excellence. It should already exist, and should have been included as an inter-departmental approach to the issue of cancer services.

Your point here is well made, however, the plan that is being rolled out has no 'centre' above a line from Dublin to Galway. It's as if it's an alien space. Those that made up this plan never copped that and were clearly indifferent to the appalling road and rail infrastrucutre in the same region.
Aside from that, Sligo General Hospital has built up a superb breast cancer unit with outcomes for patients as good as anywhere else and I would go as far as to say that closing that unit would be so irresponible that it could be called an act of vandalism