Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Louise O’Reilly TD has said reports that chemotherapy sessions for children at Crumlin children’s hospital are being delayed due to staff shortages are “shocking” and that the Minister for Health needs to put a plan in place to ensure children get the necessary care.

Speaking this afternoon, Teachta O’Reilly said;

“The reports coming from Crumlin children’s hospital that children’s chemotherapy sessions are being delayed due to a lack of staff are extremely shocking.

“It has been reported that a number of families have been informed by the hospital that their child’s chemotherapy session cannot go ahead as planned because the hospital does not have any staff available to administer the chemo.

“If these reports are true, then this is a direct result of this government’s health policies, in particular the recruitment freeze in the health service.

“The Minister for Health needs to immediately investigate this situation and if the reports are true, then he needs to release the funding to hire more staff for Crumlin children’s hospital and put a plan in place to ensure chemotherapy sessions are not being delayed.”