Sir, – As Ireland marks World Radiotherapy Awareness Day on September 7th, we must consider the future of radiotherapy services from the perspective of those who depend on them.
We are approaching the end of the National Cancer Strategy 2017–2026, yet no successor strategy is in place. Many radiotherapy machines are operating beyond their expected service life, without a replacement programme.
The Irish Research Radiation Oncology Advocacy Group has raised serious concerns about ageing equipment and the need for sustainable investment. While these concerns highlight the pressures facing radiotherapy services, their impact must also be understood from the patient perspective.
Behind every discussion about machines, infrastructure and funding is a person receiving cancer treatment. Through our patient group, Patients and Clinicians Together in Radiation Oncology, we hear what service disruption means. A machine breakdown leads to prolonged waits, cancelled appointments or another, often lengthy, journey to hospital.
It can mean missed meals, disrupted treatment preparation and more time away from family, work or caring responsibilities, all while undergoing cancer treatment. This adds to the burden of treatment. Dedicated staff work to minimise this impact but cannot compensate for ageing infrastructure.
We ask the Government to progress the next cancer strategy without delay and include a co-ordinated radiotherapy equipment replacement programme with protected, multiannual funding.
Crucially, patients must have a genuine voice in this strategy: they must be heard and their experiences must inform decisions about the services they depend on.
Patients should be able to focus on their treatment, not whether the machine delivering it will operate that day. – Yours, etc,
CLAIRE POOLE,
Assistant professor and director of clinical education Trinity College Dublin,
Co-chair of Patients and Clinicians Together in Radiation Oncology,
Dublin,