'Cancer patients are being failed' - Laois TD calls for more access to medical cards

A Laois TD has called for cancer patients to be automatically entitled to medical cards as the financial burden on patients was raised in the Dáil on Tuesday, March 24.

Independent TD Brian Stanley showed his support for Sinn Féin's Deputy David Cullinane who tabled a motion on cutting the cost of cancer care for patients, including medical cards and free parking at hospitals. 

The issue came about as the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 is due to end this year and a new strategy is needed from next year. Deputy Cullinane said a new strategy is needed to "drive improvements in access to and the quality of care from 2027."

Laois TD Brian Stanley welcomed the proposal, stating "many cancer patients are being failed." 

Deputy Stanley pointed out the significant figures of cancer diagnoses across the country and county, with 42,000 people diagnosed per year in Ireland and approximately 370 people each year in Laois. He also noted that these figures do not include non-melanoma skin cancer. He said Ireland also has the third highest mortality rate for people with cancer in the EU.

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Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Stanley said: "Unfortunately, in the most recent figures that we have from 2024, 138 people died from cancer in the county. I acknowledge the great work done by the Cuisle Cancer Support Centre in Portlaoise. Those centres need more Government support. A lot of the money is raised voluntarily."

"In Laois, people face challenges with costs. Obviously, many of them do not have medical cards. They have to travel to hospitals generally in Dublin. They have to pay tolls, parking fees and extra fuel. One of things that needs to be done is to waive the parking charges for cancer patients. It is a very simple measure that can be taken."

Another cost saving measure for cancer patients included giving them automatic entitlement to medical cards.

"I have come across a case where a person died from cancer without being able to get a medical card. Their income was very modest, but they could not get a medical card because of the low-income thresholds," Deputy Stanley told the Dáil.

As well as the financial burden faced by cancer patients, Deputy Stanley stated that delays in surgeries and cancer diagnoses must also be targeted in the new national strategy. 

"The delays in surgery are shocking. They are not being done within the timeframe. According to the Irish Cancer Society, 61% of prostate surgeries are not being done within the target timeframe. A total of 45% of breast surgeries and 39% of lung operations are not being done within the targeted timeframe," he said. 

"There are delays in radiotherapy, with 23% of cases not being done within the target timeframe, while in chemotherapy, the figure is 15%. That is shocking. Imagine the stress and worry for people who are delayed."

Deputy Stanley urged that the State should also provide free screening and free blood tests for prostate cancer for men over 60, as well as invest in modern diagnostic equipment and infrastructure in hospitals.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme