Leitrim women’s breast screening referrals refused by Dublin hospitals, meeting hears

GP referrals sent to Dublin hospitals for breast cancer for Leitrim women are being refused and redirected to Galway, Leitrim County Council has heard.

Cllr Ita Reynolds Flynn proposed that the Council call on the HSE to enforce their policy whereby any hospital must accept a GP referral relating to breast screening.

“You can imagine the terror if you find a lump and you have to be referred,” said Cllr Reynolds Flynn. 

“When the Dublin hospitals receive the referral from the GP from Leitrim, they’re then referred to Galway University Hospital, which causes delay,” she added.

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She noted that the HSE has stated they are in agreement with people being referred to the Dublin hospitals, but the Dublin hospitals don’t seem to be following this.

“So there’s someone with that terror in their mind, and they have to get at least two connections to get to Galway,” she said. 

Cllr Reynolds Flynn remarked that at least for Dublin, there is a direct train and bus connection, and you can get off the train to the Luas, which stops near the hospitals.

To travel to Galway from Leitrim using public transport, you first have to go upwards to Sligo and then get a bus back down to Galway.

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“I’d be calling on the HSE to look at this issue. I’ve been contacted by a number of GPs who are just not happy with it. For the women of Leitrim, they’re entitled to go to Dublin,” said Cllr Reynolds Flynn.

Her motion was seconded by Cllr Prior and Cllr Bohan, who noted that it is much easier to get to Dublin from Leitrim than it is to Galway.