Some of the personal testimonies we have heard this evening underline the need for change and better outcomes in this area. I speak as a representative of the west of Ireland. We know there is a postcode lottery when it comes to accessing cancer treatment across the State. The Irish Cancer Society, medical professionals and many others have consistently highlighted that waiting times to access cancer treatments in the west are among the worst in the State. For too many cancer patients, accessing treatment in a clinically appropriate timespan does not happen. To give an example, data from the HSE shows that almost 30% of cancer patients deemed fit for chemotherapy at University Hospital Galway did not receive it within the recommended 15-day clinical window. Those people are expected to wait weeks to start chemotherapy treatment while knowing that the cancer inside their bodies is not being treated. These are real people who are being put at increased risk. It is unacceptable. The root cause of these delays and failures is the lack of resourcing and staffing for cancer services. There are plans for the development of a new cancer care centre as part of the master plan at University Hospital Galway. There is still no timeline for that and there are real concerns that the Government has not provided sufficient resources in the HSE capital budget. There is currently no PET scanner operating in the public cancer care system in the western region. This imaging technology is vital for cancer diagnosis. At the moment, patients are being forced to travel really long distances to access these scans, or they are being referred to private operators at a significant cost to the State. We have been told that the delivery of a PET scanner to University Hospital Galway is not planned to be completed until 2033. This means that for many more years, cancer patients in the west will continue to experience challenges in accessing the scans they need and this inequality will continue. This motion is an opportunity for the Government to acknowledge the failings that too many cancer patients are facing within the public system. It is also an opportunity to end the postcode lottery and improve patient outcomes. I urge the Government to implement the practical solutions outlined in the motion.

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