Data reveals Kilkenny hospital nearing bottom in access to chemo

Kilkenny TD, Natasha Newsome Drennan, 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 shows that people in Kilkenny are waiting longer for chemotherapy than the vast majority of hospitals in the country.

According to the data from the HSE, in Kilkenny 28% of people 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.

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People in Kilkenny also face delays in accessing surgery for breast cancer, with 41% of people not getting surgery within the recommended timeframe of 20 days mainly because of long delays for MRI scans.

Deputy Newsome Drennan 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 Kilkenny have to wait longer for access to chemotherapy than almost anywhere else in the country. Out of 25 hospitals providing chemotherapy, St. Lukes Kilkenny ranks 22th with 28% of people not getting chemotherapy within the target timeframe of 15 working days. This compares to 15% state-wide, and just 2.7% in Wexford.

“People in Kilkenny are also disadvantaged in accessing surgery for breast cancer, with 41% of people not getting surgery within the recommended timeframe of 20 days.  UHW serves the entire south east for this surgery as the main cancer centre.  These delays are driven by a knock-on delay for MRI scans.

“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 in Kilkenny have come to me because they are waiting weeks for treatment.

“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.”