'I need a scan to see if I'm dying or not': Lung cancer patient queries outsourcing and delays
A Cork lung cancer patient has raised questions about delays to vital scans and the impact of outsourcing the reading of those scans in her case.
Up to Thursday, 43-year-old Gillian Ryan, who lives in Bandon, Co Cork, had no date for a scan due six months after her last one in October.
'It is a surveillance scan to see where the cancer's at, how it's behaving. Basically, I need a scan to see if I'm dying or not,' she said.
'I did relay how anxious this was making me, this was my life at the end of the day.'
Her last scan was at a private clinic in Cork City under an arrangement with Cork University Hospital (CUH).
However, she was told this is no longer possible even when she offered to pay.
Last week she was given an appointment for June 7 at Bantry General Hospital.
This caused further distress because last year and in 2023 she experienced problems with reading of scans when this was outsourced by Bantry.
'I was just shocked, just shell-shocked that was even an option to send me back there, as that was the very hospital that outsourced my scans only for them to be unreported on,' she said.
The nodule was allowed to double in size, twice, it went unreported.
She had the top section of her right lung removed previously, this nodule formed on the bottom section going from 4mm in April 2023 to 10mm by November 2024.
Her children are 20 and 17, and she said: 'They still need me, and I'm only 43. I don't want to expire this early.
Gillian Ryan had the top section of her right lung removed previously.
'I appreciate other people are waiting but I can only think of me and my two children, I don't want to leave them motherless.'
She added: 'I was told last April [2024] that I would never have to go back to Bantry, that all my care would be in the CUH going forward.'
She has been told by staff informally there is no resident radiologist in Bantry.
'It just feels like I'm being swept under the carpet, that my life doesn't matter,' she said.
'I do think priority should be given to people who're going through cancer.
We should have learned from the CervicalCheck not to outsource our scans.
Ms Ryan discussed this with the Irish Examiner on Wednesday when she had "no concrete date".
Questions were submitted to the HSE Southwest on Thursday morning.
Later that day after Ms Ryan contacted CUH again, the private clinic said CUH authorised an appointment for Friday morning with it.
'This scan determines the course of my life,' she said afterwards.
'I should never have had to fight, beg. This is your life and your life matters.'
HSE Southwest said cancer care is led the CUH Cancer Centre, with some surveillance scans at Bantry.
'The interval between these scans may vary, depending on each patient's treatment plan,' a spokeswoman said on Friday.
The radiology systems at both hospitals are linked meaning scans taken there can be viewed, read, and reported at CUH.
'We can confirm that an external company provides radiology reporting services at Bantry General Hospital.
"This service is accredited and subject to regular audit,' she said.
The hospital does not comment on individual patients' treatment.
It is understood CUH has been in touch with Ms Ryan and intends to review her care.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
3 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Marathon runner had gift for friendship, funeral hears
A young woman who died not long after she reached the finish line at the Cork City Marathon last weekend had a gift for friendship and was generous with her "attention, energy, love and affection," her requiem mass has heard. Ellen Cassidy (24) of Carhoo, Old Mallow Road in Co Cork became ill just after she completed the half marathon last Sunday at about 1pm. She died shortly afterwards in Cork University Hospital. Ellen worked in cybersecurity for PVC having achieved a first class honours degree in Business Information Systems from UCC. Her father, Tom Cassidy, told mourners at the Church of the Annunciation in Blackpool in Cork City this afternoon that Ellen acquired pockets of friends wherever she went. Mr Cassidy said that the wake for Ellen in their family home had lasted nine hours with friends pouring in in large numbers to share their precious memories. He stressed that Ellen "didn't lead with elbows she led with open arms." "That made her stand out. That made her special. That made everyone that came in contact with her feel special. "The result of this approach to life is what we had last night with a nine hour wake. A full church today both inside and outside. "Honestly, we never expected what we have seen over the last 48 hours. But it is the result of (Ellen) putting others first." Mr Cassidy said that he and his wife Vi had found their daughter's diary in the days after her death. He said Ellen's diary entry on her 20th birthday summed up her approach to life. "The entry for 11 March, 2021 - her 20th birthday - reads: 'I am not a child out of your comfort zone. Don't follow the crowd. You never know the person you could be if you don't step up. You will never know what life will throw at you but you must embrace it. Make choices and decisions - but don't look back. Follow your gut. Small things make a huge difference.' "'I am so lucky to have them (my family) - we are lucky to have each other.'" Mr Cassidy said that the day before Ellen took part in the Cork City Marathon she sent her mother Vi "the most beautiful message." It read: 'I would choose my Mum to be my Mum in every lifetime again and again and again'. Mr Cassidy said that Ellen "always had a number of plates spinning at any one time." "Swimming, for example, swimming 16 hours per week, music (was) four hours per week, attendance and practice, piano was seven hours a week, attendance and practice, school, her university attendance, exams that go with both and, of course, her friends." Mr Cassidy said his daughter achieved so much in the fields of music, sport, academia and in her personal life. Particularly cherished family memories include the sight of Ellen eating pasta with ketchup or the time she managed to get a H2 in Leaving Certificate Accounting having scored just nine percent in the subject in a fifth year exam. Mr Cassidy asked friends of his daughter to continue to call to the family home as the family embark on the long and painful road to "some sort of normality." He also thanked all those who had assisted Ellen when she became ill as well as family, friends, neighbours and the wider community for their support over the last few days. Meanwhile, Canon John O'Donovan noted that Ellen had written in her diary that she wanted her family to be happy. He said with her all her achievements in life her greatest legacy was the love she had for her family and friends. Offertory gifts included a medal Ellen received when she completed the Milan marathon, swimming hats, sheets of music and her music book, a sea shell representing her favourite place which was Alvor in Portugal, and a heart symbolising friendship. Ellen was an accomplished swimmer who represented Dolphin Swimming Club, UCC, Munster and Ireland. She was also a pianist who studied at the Cork School of Music. Ellen is survived by her parents Vi and Tom, her siblings Mary and Charlie, her boyfriend Rob, her grandparents Joan, Billy and Tom, her extended family and her "many many best friends." The song "We Have Got the World Tonight" by Mickey Joe Harte was sung by a soloist as the coffin was brought from the church to the Island Crematorium in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork. A guard of honour was formed by members of Dolphin Swimming Club. Large numbers of runners from clubs throughout Cork also participated in the tribute to Ms Cassidy.
The Journal
3 hours ago
- The Journal
Young woman who died in Cork marathon had a 'gift for friendship', her funeral mass hears
A YOUNG WOMAN who died not long after she reached the finish line at the Cork City Marathon last weekend had a gift for friendship and was generous with her 'attention, energy, love and affection,' her requiem mass has heard. Ellen Cassidy (24) of Carhoo, Old Mallow Road in Co Cork became ill just after she completed the half marathon last Sunday at about 1pm. She died shortly afterwards in Cork University Hospital. Ellen worked in cybersecurity, having achieved a first class honours degree in Business Information systems from UCC. Her father, Tom Cassidy, told mourners at the Church of the Annunciation in Blackpool in Cork city this afternoon that Ellen acquired pockets of friends wherever she went. He said that the wake for Ellen in their family home had lasted nine hours with friends pouring in in large numbers to share their precious memories. He stressed that Ellen 'didn't lead with elbows, she led with open arms.' 'That made her stand out. That made her special. That made everyone that came in contact with her feel special. 'The result of this approach to life is what we had last night with a nine hour wake. A full church today both inside and outside. 'Honestly we never expected what we have seen over the last 48 hours. But it is the result of Ellen putting others first.' Her father said that he and his wife Vi had found their daughter's diary in the days after her death. He said Ellen's diary entry on her 20th birthday summed up her approach to life. 'The entry for March 11 2021, her 20th birthday, reads: 'I am not a child anymore…step out of your comfort zone. Don't follow the crowd. You never know the person you could be if you don't step up. You will never know what life will throw at you but you must embrace it. Make choices and decisions – but don't look back. Follow your gut. Small things make a huge difference. 'I am so lucky to have them (my family) – we are lucky to have each other.' Tom Cassidy said that the day before Ellen took part in the Cork City Marathon, she sent her mother Vi 'the most beautiful message.' Advertisement It read: 'I would choose my Mum to be my Mum in every lifetime again and again and again'.' He said that Ellen 'always had a number of plates spinning at any one time'. 'Swimming, for example, swimming 16 hours per week, music (was) four hours per week, attendance and practice, piano was seven hours a week, attendance and practice, school, her university attendance, exams that go with both and, of course, her friends.' He said his daughter achieved so much in the fields of music, sport, academia and in her personal life. Particularly cherished family memories include the sight of Ellen eating pasta with ketchup or the time she managed to get a H2 in Leaving Certificate Accounting, having scored just nine percent in the subject in a fifth year exam. He asked friends of his daughter to continue to call to the family home as the family embark on the long and painful road to 'some sort of normality'. He also thanked all those who had assisted Ellen when she became ill as well as family, friends, neighbours and the wider community for their support over the last few days. Canon John O'Donovan noted that Ellen had written in her diary that she wanted her family to be happy. He said with her all her achievements in life her greatest legacy was the love she had for her family and friends. Offertory gifts included a medal Ellen received when she completed the Milan marathon, swimming hats, sheets of music and her music book, a sea shell representing her favourite place which was Alvor in Portugal, and a heart symbolising friendship. Ellen was an accomplished swimmer who represented Dolphin Swimming Club, UCC, Munster and Ireland. She was also a pianist who studied at the Cork School of Music. Ellen is survived by her parents Vi and Tom, her siblings Mary and Charlie, her boyfriend Rob, her grandparents Joan, Billy and Tom, her extended family and her 'many many best friends.' The song 'We have got the world tonight' by Mickey Joe Harte was sung by a soloist as the coffin was brought from the church to the Island Crematorium in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork. A guard of honour was formed by members of Dolphin Swimming Club. Large numbers of runners from clubs throughout Cork also participated in the tribute to Ellen. Friends, many of whom wore bright colours, also walked behind the coffin.
Irish Examiner
6 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Cork and Kerry mental health services have fewer staff now than during staffing crisis two years ago
The majority of child mental health teams in Cork and Kerry have fewer staff now than in 2023 when the Mental Health Commission said children were at risk due to vacancies. One team is down more than 50% despite rising patient numbers. Across the two counties, 407 children have waited longer than a year. A new ADHD service has already seen far more children than expected but still has a waiting list. Cork and Kerry have 11 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) teams, of which seven have fewer clinical staff now. The South Lee 3 team has 5.9 roles filled between full-time and part-time staff, compared with 13.1 two years ago. South Lee 1 has 7.8 roles filled now compared to 13.5 then. The West Cork team had 11.65 roles filled two years ago and now has 9.8. However, in the wake of separate reports on serious concerns, South Kerry has the equivalent of 14.8 clinical staff compared to 9.76 two years ago, and in North Kerry the numbers are 13.4 compared to 11.2. North Cork has 14.6 clinical staff now compared to 12.8 two years ago, but it also has the highest waiting lists at 248, including 110 children waiting longer than a year. Across all the teams 2,142 children are in active treatment with 1,074 on waiting lists. Last October, the HSE opened a dedicated ADHD clinic in Ballincollig. This takes transfers from Cork and Kerry of children with suspected ADHD. It expected to see 120 young people within six months. This data, released under the Freedom of Information Act, shows by February it received 264 referrals and treated 193. The figures follow mental health minister Mary Butler in April warning HSE South West and Dublin North East together carry 50% of Camhs national waiting lists. Mental Health Reform interim chief executive Philip Watt called for more supports for these two regions. 'It does show the pace of investment and progress needs to increase,' he said. Staffing gaps are 'the legacy of the recruitment ban' he warned, adding: "There was no recruitment to Camhs for a significant period of time.' He welcomed the new ADHD service, but said: 'The over-subscription and the waiting list is a matter of specific concern.' He also called for better access to alternatives for less severely children, including the Jigsaw centres. A HSE South West spokeswoman said the ADHD service had one consultant and one NCHD (non-consultant hospital doctor) which she described as a 'streamlined team'. She said: "Feedback from families has been very positive." The vacant Camhs posts are 'one of our top regional priorities', she said, for providing 'accessible, high-quality mental health care for every child'. She added: 'It is important to clarify that at present there is no recruitment ban.' In 2023, the Mental Health Commission said in Cork and Kerry there had been a just under 20% increase in referrals to Camhs services from 2016 to 2021 without a corresponding increase in staffing. It praised 'highly skilled staff ' but highlighted 'complicated, piecemeal and unsustainable efforts to fill the considerable gaps'.
