Cancer patients need better Covid protocols

A CITY councillor and current cancer patient at University Hospital Galway (UHG) said this week that a better system should be put in place as regards Covid procedures for those undergoing chemotherapy, radium and other acute day-care treatments.

Cllr. Alan Cheevers told the Galway City Tribune that cancer patients on day treatment programmes at UHG should be completing an antigen test prior to entering the hospital.

“This would eliminate the need for phone surveys prior to their treatments and would be a lot more efficient in indicating as to whether a person was Covid-free or not,” said Cllr. Cheevers.

He stressed that he was suggesting this, not as a criticism, but as a practical way of ensuring that both patients and staff could go about their business in a far safer environment.

“What happens at present is that patients are contacted by phone the day before they are due to go for treatment and asked a series of questions.

“Given that in most cases the omicron variant seems so mild, the patient might have no idea that they could have Covid. “What I would like to see is the HSE providing free antigen tests which the patient could undergo a day or two before going in for treatment and then be able to provide the results of those to the hospital.

“It would just take all the guessing out of whether someone going in for treatment had, or had not, the Covid virus,” said Cllr. Cheevers.

The Fianna Fáil councillor from Roscam – who is currently undergoing a cancer treatment programme at UHG – also called for changes to be made as regards cancer and other vulnerable patients who might need to be admitted to hospital if they were feeling very unwell after treatment.

“If that happens, we are currently being told to seek admission to the hospital via the Accident and Emergency Department but I really don’t think that is satisfactory for such patients,” said Cllr. Cheevers.

He said that such patients – by virtue of their condition and treatment programme – would be that bit more vulnerable to picking up colds, viruses and infections.

“I just think that it should be possible for such patients to be admitted to the hospital – rather than having to go through the Emergency Department – which can get quite crowded at times.

“I believe that a solution could be provided whereby cancer patients would be admitted to the hospital without having to go through what is a high-risk environment,” said Cllr. Cheevers.

He added that where patients were vulnerable – such as those on cancer treatment – it should be possible to admit them to the hospital without having to go through ED.

“I think that it should be possible for example to be able to admit such patients through the cancer wards of the hospital. Again, I feel, that would be a safer way of doing things for both patients and staff,” said Cllr. Cheevers.

He said that he was making those observations not as a politician but as a cancer patient of UHG where he described the treatment and care provided to him and other patients as ‘second to none’.

“The oncology department at the hospital provide the most professional and caring service for their patients – it really is a wonderful service and delivered with great expertise and compassion by all involved, I would have to say. They are exceptional.

“My two concerns about the lack of pre-treatment antigen tests and the necessity to get admission through ED, are meant as constructive suggestions in the context of the current Covid situation,” said Cllr. Cheevers.