'How did the dermatology service in Sligo University Hospital get to this?' asks Harkin

“Last year consultant dermatologist at SUH [Sligo University Hospital] Dr Dermot McKenna informed me that he had contacted all healthcare providers saying his clinics would be cancelled,” Sligo Leitrim TD Marian Harkin told Finance Minister Michael McGrath in the Dáil, “he did this because he had more than 3,500 new patients waiting for their first appointment and 100 new referrals each week.

“I raised the exact issue a year ago in the Dáil with the then Taoiseach, Micháel Martin.  Here we are, one year later, according to Dr McKenna, his service has fewer nursing hours than 20 years ago and, after two years of trying, he cannot even get an examination light installed to properly examine patients.

Ms Harkin went on to tell Minister McGrath that the senior dermatologist in Letterkenny University Hospital retired a few weeks ago and all his patients are now being referred to Dr McKenna, “Dr McKenna has said this will impact patient survival, especially in relation to highly time-sensitive cancer care. In a most stark assessment of the situation, he says the dermatology services in the northwest have been effectively dismantled,” Deputy Harkin said.

“The situation was critical last year, and it is beyond that now. What is the model for dermatology services in the northwest? How did it get to this point?”

In response, Minister McGrath said he would bring the issue to the attention of the Minister for Health.