NOTE: By submitting this form and registering with us, you are providing us with permission to store your personal data and the record of your registration. In addition, registration with the Medical Independent includes granting consent for the delivery of that additional professional content and targeted ads, and the cookies required to deliver same. View our Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice for further details.



Don't have an account? Register

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

IMO warns of ‘devastating’ impact of Covid-19 on waiting lists

By Mindo - 02nd Jun 2021

IMO representatives have  warned of the “devastating impact” of the pandemic on cancer services for years to come.

Dr Clive Kilgallen, Chair of the IMO consultant committee, and Dr Denis McCauley, Chair of the GP committee, were speaking at the Oireachtas Health Committee today.

Dr Kilgallen said that “in March and April 2020, during the first wave, rapid access clinics for breast and lung cancer saw referrals fall by a third  and referrals for prostate cancer fall by half. While referrals have recovered, they remain significantly below 2019 levels particularly for lung and prostate cancer.”

He added that  “many patients” also experienced delays in accessing services and that cancer screening programmes have also been affected.

Dr McCauley called for investment in a national public health messaging campaign to help patients identify the signs and symptoms of different cancers and encourage individuals to visit their GP at the first sign of symptoms.

He also called for the reinstatement of national cancer screening programmes and “urgent and rapid expansion of access to diagnostic infrastructure including radiography, endoscopy and laboratory services”.

Leave a Reply

ADVERTISEMENT

Latest

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Issue
The Medical Independent 3rd December 2024

You need to be logged in to access this content. Please login or sign up using the links below.

ADVERTISEMENT

Trending Articles

ADVERTISEMENT