Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow John Brady has said new cancer performance data shows an alarming pattern of delayed care, with too many patients not starting treatment or surgery within target timeframes.
New data released to Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health David Cullinane shows that people in Wicklow are waiting longer for chemotherapy than other parts of the country.
According to the data from the HSE, 17.8% of patients at St. Vincent’s Hospital do not get access to chemotherapy within the target timeframe of 15 working days. This compares to 15% state-wide, and just 2.7% in Wexford.
Patients in St. Vincent’s also face delays in accessing surgery for breast cancer, with 52% of people not getting surgery within the recommended timeframe of 20 days mainly because of long delays for MRI scans. If people in Wicklow could get their MRI scans on time, then 72% of people would get breast cancer surgery on time.
Teachta Brady said:
“This is stark data and it should be a wake-up call for the minister and the government. Despite the best efforts of staff who do trojan work every single day, cancer services are beginning to slip. The preliminary data for 2025 makes for very difficult reading.
“People in Wicklow being treated by St. Vincent’s Hospital have to wait longer for access to chemotherapy than elsewhere in the country. Out of 25 hospitals providing chemotherapy, St. Vincent’s ranks 17th with 17.8% of people not getting chemotherapy within the target timeframe of 15 working days. That is 91 people who faced serious delays for chemo in 2025.
“Patients at St. Vincent’s Hospital are also disadvantaged in accessing surgery for breast cancer, with 52% of people not getting surgery within the recommended timeframe of 20 days. That’s 133 women whose life was impacted by these delays. These delays are driven by a knock-on delay for MRI scans. If people in Vincent’s could get their MRI scans on time, then 72% of people would get breast cancer surgery on time, which would still leave many women waiting too long.
“Behind each of these figures are hundreds of people who are sick with worry, facing delay after delay and trying to cope with the fear that their cancer is progressing while they wait. Constituents of mine have come to me because they are waiting weeks for treatment. This is happening right around the country, and delays in accessing diagnostic scans is a big driver of delays in starting treatment or accessing surgery.
“And the cruel reality is that those who can afford to go private can get ahead, while everyone else is left to sit in a queue. That is wrong and completely contrary to Sláintecare, but this Government is allowing a tier cancer system to develop through political choices to underfund the Cancer Strategy.
“We cannot allow cancer care to go backwards, but in some areas that is exactly what this data suggests is happening. In the majority of years since the strategy was launched in 2018 the Government made a decision to not provide new funding to implement the National Cancer Strategy and improve services. The Strategy has been starved of the multi-annual funding it needs.
“Delays are hurting at every stage of a cancer patient’s journey from the first GP referral to a consultant, to diagnostics, to treatment, to surgery because the problem is not in one single place. Capacity failures ripple through the whole system.
“Equipment is a major part of this. Some hospitals do not have enough equipment, in others it is outdated, and there are hospitals with new equipment but who cannot retain enough staff to operate it meaning services can’t run at full capacity. The fact that around 35% of radiotherapy equipment is out of date is simply unacceptable. Modern, up-to-date equipment must be matched with proper staffing, so capacity can be maximised.
“The solution is simple. The Government must commit to full implementation of the cancer strategy with multi-annual funding, publish and deliver a credible workforce strategy, and urgently tackle diagnostic and treatment bottlenecks so patients are seen quickly, treated quickly and supported throughout their journey.
“This data must be a turning point. Patients deserve timely care. Staff deserve a system that supports them. The Minister must act now to stop cancer services slipping further and to drive waiting times down.”
ENDS