Bra Protest Gets Support From Labour

The Labour party has announced its support for a protest by Save Our Cancer Services at Sligo Hospital today.

Today, the Save Our Cancer Services campaign took its message to the Department of the Taoiseach, where protestors showed their support by tying bras to the railings of the department.

The campaign is calling on the Government not to go ahead with the transferring of cancer services from Sligo Hospital to Galway, especially the breast screening departments at the hospital.

Among those present at the event were Labour's Health Spokesperson Jan O'Sullivan TD as well as Susan O'Keeffe, Cllr Jim McGarry and Cllr Veronica Cawley.

Speaking at the event, Jan O'Sullivan said: "It is still not too late to retain full cancer services in Sligo. The decision to ignore geography and distance was wrong.

"All the evidence available suggests that Galway just won't be able to cope and that there will be longer waiting times for all patients dependant on the hospital.

TD O'Sullivan added that the women of the North West were bringing their protest to Dublin and that the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health must "hear their voices".

A spokesman for the the Campaign Group said: "If we loose the Cancer Services in Sligo General Hospital the lives of Cancer Patients will greatly deteriorate. Already they have to travel hundreds of miles round trips to Galway and spend up to seven weeks away from home because there is no Radio Therapy available in the North West.

"If the Government and the Health Service Executive are allowed to close all Cancer Services in Sligo General Hospital not only will Cancer Patients have to travel for Radio Therapy but also for assessment, diagnosis, and all other treatments."

The move of the department is planned for August 6 this year.

(DW/BMcc)