Those involved in the Campaign from the beginning are Barry O’Neill, Ballyshannon, Ann Mc Gowan, Ballyshannon, Daniel Mc Garrigle, Ballyshannon, President of the Students Union, Sligo IT, Imelda Henry, Sligo, Lily Mc Morrow, Sligo.
Barry O’ Neill: Fine Gael Councillor with Donegal County Council
Barry has a strong history of cancer within his own close family members where some of them have been on the receiving end of very inhumane treatment in the Galway Hospital. This is the same hospital which has been earmarked as a Centre of Excellence for Cancer Patients in the North West.
He became involved with the campaign after discussions about the Cancer Services on Ocean FM in Sept 2007. Contacts Details: Phone No: 0868772325. email: barryj.oneill@rte.ie
Ann Mc Gowan: Project Coordinator with Atlantic View Community Development Project, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal.
Ann has fighting for Cancer Services in Sligo General Hospital since May 2005 while she aited twelve weeks to get an appointment with a consultant after discovering a lump in her breast. She got her appointment only after many weeks of lobbying for it in the Media and after creating a very volatile discussion on Live Line. She was rung the same evening with an appointment for the next day and was duly diagnosed with cancer. She went through Surgery, Chemo Therapy and Radio Therapy when she had to go to St Lukes in Dublin for five weeks. She is also on anti cancer tablets for five years. Ann claims that if she had been seen right away and not had to wait three months for an appointment the three glands would not have been infected. She said ” Because of cut backs by the HSE and the Government I have a Damocles Sword hanging over my head for the rest of my life.”
She also believes that women are very discriminated against by the Government in the North West with breast cancer being the first thing the Government decided to cut and with mothers being torn from their children for weeks for Radio Therapy when the mothers and their children are already traumatised so badly with the diagnosis of cancer.
Contact Details: Phone No: 087 603 1822 / 071 98 22833 email: mcgowana@eircom.net
Imelda Henry Fine Gael Councillor with Sligo County Council
Imelda has been very active with the group from the beginning. She objects strongly to the fact that the Breast Cancer Services were the first things that was going to be done away with in Sligo General by the Government. She also feels women were being discriminated against but also believes that if the Breast Cancer Services go so will the Colon, Prostrate and all other cancer services in the North West. Contact details: 0878177777. email: imeldahenry@eircom.net
Lily Mc Morrow was diagnosed with cancer in 1975 and had to travel to Dublin’s St Vincent Hospital where she found there was no bed for her. She spent two weeks there that time for tests while none of her family could be with her because of the costs of staying over.
She was again back in hospital in Dublin in 1992 for more tests; she was took an ambulance to the Blackrock Clinic. She was very ill at this time and after her appointment discovered the ambulance had left without her. She and her husband Gerry had to make their way to Connolly St Station for a train home. She was so ill she had to be transferred her off the train in Longford by ambulance.
She was back in Dublin once more for tests in 1995 where once more the ambulance was gone when she had finished her tests. This time the train was also gone. A man they met at the reception desk put them up for the night after hearing their story as they had not budgeted for B&B. They had to take the train home the next day. She is still fighting cancer and now receives her treatment in Sligo General.
Lily lost her Mother though cancer in June 1999. She said “We had to take her to Saint Luke’s Hospital on the train and bring a wheelchair as she could not walk. It was heart breaking and very stressful for her as it was for us. It was a very long journey and at the time it nearly killed her.
I lost one of my sisters on Dec 18th 07 through cancer. In Sept she had to go to Galway for Radio Therapy. It was two weeks before a bed became available for her. When she got there she had to wait six hours in a wheelchair and was on the brink of being sent back to Sligo. The cancer had travelled to her spine and she was in agony and a very sick woman and totally drained.
When I learned on the radio what was going to happen to the Oncology Unit in Sligo General Hospital it was so hard to take. It took seven years to get the service that has been a life saver for many people in the North West, it was very badly needed. For the people who were diagnosed with this dreadful disease this service took a lot of pressure of those who need treatment. It meant they had the support of their families going through this terrible time in their lives. Now they want to take it away from us. We are not going to give up on this! It is too important to us and the people of the North West. It is also important that people take note of what is happening and help with the campaign in any way they can. It is vital to the people of the North West to hold on to the service, who knows what family is going to be hit next with this dreadful disease! When the service is gone it is gone for good.
