Councillors seek for cancer care guarantees amid HSE funding controls - Donegal Daily

Councillors have warned that Donegal must not see cancer services cut back as pressure mounts on HSE budgets.Carndonagh Sinn Féin councillor Albert Doherty has...

Councillors have warned that Donegal must not see cancer services cut back as pressure mounts on HSE budgets.

Carndonagh Sinn Féin councillor Albert Doherty has called for “sustainability and clarity” around health services in the north west in the midst of the HSE's budget overspend.

The West and North West region is one of four set to lose autonomy over day-to-day spending , with Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers saying greater central controls are being introduced in response to overspending.

Cllr Doherty, who recently shared that he is receiving treatment for cancer , is seeking assurances that controls will not translate into service losses in Donegal.

“What we need is sustainability and clarity on the issues that are currently affecting us, many in relation to cancer services and many in relation to a health programme for the remainder of the year,” he said.

Cllr Doherty called for continued protection of the Donegal-Dublin cancer flights, investment to tackle waiting lists for scans and radiotherapy, greater oncology capacity and staffing at Letterkenny University Hospital and an expansion of cross-border cancer care arrangements with Altnagelvin.

He also raised wider concerns around vacancies in health services, including speech and language therapy and occupational therapy posts.

Cllr Doherty, who thanked health service staff that he has engaged with in recent months, also spoke of the pressure continuing to come through emergency departments.

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“What I see is a funnel that has continued to come in for Accident and Emergency - well handled - but the funnel is like a running tap,” he said.

Seconding the motion, Cllr Gerry McMonagle said there had been some positive movement in oncology and haematology services .

“They have received approval for funding to increase the treatment chairs by 15 and to replace 15 of the existing chairs. So that’s good news," he said.

Cllr McMonagle said a business case to increase the haematology and oncology day service had not been successful to date and had been resubmitted.

Cllr McMonagle said cancer treatment performance had also improved during 2026, but warned against becoming complacent.

The council agreed to write to the Minister for Health, the Health Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive and the Regional Executive Officer for HSE West and North West, bringing the issues raised in Cllr Doherty’s motion to their attention and seeking an updated progress report.