Cancer is bad
Posted on | December 11, 2007 | 27 Comments
When things like this are happening and then you read about the impending closure of St Luke’s in Rathgar you can’t help but be just a bit cross at it all.
I hope not too many of you have experience of St Lukes but I suspect, like me, a lot of you do. It’s a place that provides wonderful care to people with cancer and when the inevitable generally happens it leaves the families with a measure of peace because they know their loved one has been given the kind of treatment we’d all want for ourselves should it happen to us.
There’s a march on Saturday to protest the decision to move cancer services to St James’s Hospital. There’s also more information about the campaign in the link below.
Save St Luke’s hospital, Dublin.
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27 Responses to “Cancer is bad”
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December 11th, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
It’s a disgrace the services are being moved. A young close relative of mine was treated for a brain tumour there and the treatment, the doctors and the nurses were amazing. He died in the end, but the way he was treated made him much more comfortable than he would otherwise have been. I’ll be protesting on Saturday.
December 11th, 2007 @ 4:45 pm
Spot on Twenty.
December 11th, 2007 @ 4:46 pm
What’s the idea, sell St Lukes to get the HSE out of the red?
They should sell the other St Lukes, the one in Drumcondra, and use the proceeds to settle Bertie’s debt of honour to the Irish people.
December 11th, 2007 @ 4:46 pm
What’s the idea, sell St Lukes to get the HSE out of the red?
Well, I’m sure you wouldn’t get that much for 8 acres in Dublin 6.
Oh.
December 11th, 2007 @ 4:53 pm
I find this disheartening, I moved to Ireland because I thought you had your shit together. Anyway, I have circulated the link to my friends in the hope they will sign the online petition at the very least, and I will be marching, jesus the last time I marched was against the poll tax and student loans, I will be subscribing to the Socialist Worker next.
December 11th, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
Yip – my mother was there. I’m sure they tried their best. It didn’t work though.
December 11th, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
I hear ya.
December 11th, 2007 @ 4:56 pm
For once I completely agree with you. Good man for highlighting Deborah’s plight. The more cases you hear the more apparent it because that HSE and it’s employees really don’t care. The blame is often attributed to bad management, lack of resources, bureaucracy or a hierarchal culture within the HSE and whilst they all these factors have a role to play the single most significant factor seems to be blatant disregard for patients. But when you think about it at the moment there is no accountability, nobody gets sacked for incompetence, there are absolutely no consequences so why would they facilitate change? it is absolutely disgraceful.
Sadly Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin faces the same faith as St Lukes I will definitely be taking part in the protest as should everybody else, putting your money where your mouth is and such.
December 11th, 2007 @ 5:22 pm
I said it before and ill say it again,the people who’s hands we leave our lives in,dont giving a flying fuck about any of us,and this is just another of a long line of examples.
While wankers piss around the bush,good honest decent Irish people are suffereing.
December 11th, 2007 @ 5:57 pm
Thanks Twenty – appreciate the mention!
December 11th, 2007 @ 5:58 pm
Not a problem and best of luck.
December 11th, 2007 @ 8:16 pm
Eh – this link isn’t exactly related to this post but who doesn’t want to see a video of Eoghan Harris showing on “live” TV what a twit he is? Sent to me by a pal and I’ve watched it over and over again for the laugh out loud factor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMxLkBF3AiQ
I won’t be at the march this weekend but hope you get a huge turnout.
December 11th, 2007 @ 9:40 pm
The closure is part of Ahern´s & Harney´s wonderful new National Health Service.its called “Paradise regained”. It will get you to Heaven faster, and cheaper.(If you really want to remain earthbound for much longer-get some VHI fast.!)
A lot of people did not listen to Bertie´s plans for new health services last April before the election.
Dont despair,you can get all the details here:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xsegw04LTAE
December 11th, 2007 @ 11:14 pm
I have been to St Lukes on a few occasions to visit relatives that were being treated there.
My Aunt was treated for cancer there 21 years ago and it was a wonderful hospital then, spotless and the staff cared about the patients & their families.
Another relative was treated there this year and unlike most hospitals it is still clean and the staff are still dedicated and try and do their best for the patients & families. Unfortunately both my relatives died but at least they got treated with respect and kindness by people trained to deal with cancer and the effect it has on both the patient and their families.
By transferring the patients and care to St James will do nothing to help patients or their families, James as everybody knows is bang in the middle of the city, looks like and feels like an industrial institution and will only cause more stress to people already suffering terribly.
Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin is another wonderful hospital that this government together with the HSE have decided to fuck up by transferring the care to the Mater. Have any of the people who decided this was a good idea ever tried to visit someone in the Mater ? I doubt it, parking alone is a complete mare (As is our minister for fucking ill health)
Mary Harney will be remembered for taking the “Heal” out of “Health” if nothing else..
December 11th, 2007 @ 11:26 pm
Eoghan Harris IS A COMPLETE CUNT, he has shown himself to be nothing but a crawling little cock sucking (Berties) bollox.
He nailed his colours to the mast prior to the election with his numerous broadcasts in favour of Bertie and his crew of cunts and he will have 4-5 years to reflect on and hopefully regret it.
He is like a lot of so called journalists nowadays, ignores the truth, gives his own biased and self serving opinion but dresses it up as fact.
CUNT, CUNT, CUNT.
December 11th, 2007 @ 11:27 pm
I know people talk about the benefits of centralising cancer treatment and there are many good arguments for it but I think there’s more to it than being efficient and cost effective.
St Luke’s is a bit special, it’s not just how people are looked after but the grounds of the hospital, the atmosphere. Many people go there and never come back out as I know too well. To have a garden, to have a peaceful place to spend your last days, to have specialist nurses and doctors who compliment the place itself must mean so much.
You’ll never do anything to convince me that St James’s can provide that to people who are seriously ill or undergoing palliative care. St James’s is a fucking kip. There are too many administrators looking at numbers and completely ignoring the human aspect of illness.
As for the children’s hospital, it’s madness. Bock has written about it before, and he says everything that needs to be said.
http://bocktherobber.com/2007/01/locating-a-childrens-hospital
http://bocktherobber.com/2007/11/what-have-the-nuns-got-on-bertie-ahern
http://bocktherobber.com/2006/11/oh-the-sisters-of-mercy-they-are-not-departed-or-gone
December 12th, 2007 @ 12:02 am
Centralisation is utterly bogus. This is the third term of this govt, and delivery is non-existent. Send them all to Gitmo, I say. Mean, penny-pinching cunts. I can’t even get a Christmas bonus this year as I’m not long-term unemployed (five weeks short of it), govt of fucking grinches.
Cancer Services stories/ scandals are just fucking shocking, Twenty.
‘Avoiding life’s’ tale is just making me want to scream; the poor woman is being left like waste to die, and tough shit if its cancer. My own mother is in an analogous position in relation to wanting an arthritic hip assessed so she can (possibly, maybe) get an operation done.
But people do have to get really angry, Twenty, then we might actually get shot of this poxy govt. OK off for a large one before bed (that’s a drink, not some gay bum sex… tho’ actually…)
December 12th, 2007 @ 12:51 am
There is absolutely no comparison between St Luke’s and St. James. St James is an MRSA ridden shit hole. My uncle spent some time in St. Luke’s and had high regard for it sadly he died a horrendous death in St James, gasping for breath and thing that bothered him the most was the fact he wet himself whilst waiting on a bed pan. That is not an isolated case it is commonplace, management at St James is pathetic. How an earth could they possible offer the service and dedication that St Luke’s offer if they can’t deal with what they have at the moment.
As for Our Lady’s, I attended the last protest I am all for centres of excellence and yes Our Lady’s does need extensive refurbishment but the fucking Mater, imagine running in the middle of the night with a sick child, imagine having to battle traffic, find parking, accommodation and then inflict another horrendous hole on a young child. People neglect the importance of atmosphere and attention in hospitals, regarding it as if where a bonus, it is a right one we shouldn’t have to fight for. There is no dignity for patients in Irish hospitals. I really hope people are out in force on Saturday.
December 12th, 2007 @ 1:04 am
“St Luke’s is a bit special, it’s not just how people are looked after but the grounds of the hospital, the atmosphere. Many people go there and never come back out as I know too well. To have a garden, to have a peaceful place to spend your last days, to have specialist nurses and doctors who compliment the place itself must mean so much.”
This is the key point of the whole thing,the point that is sadly over looked.For shame.
December 12th, 2007 @ 9:07 am
St James’ is a vile, soul-sucking shithole. I wonder if Harney herself has ever had to sojourn there….of course she’d need two beds, not one…..seriously though, the day she gets colon and/or bowel cancer from overeating I hope this comes back to haunt her.
December 12th, 2007 @ 10:58 am
twenty, by now you should know not to believe everything you hear in the news. while it will be a disaster amalgamating st. luke’s with st. james’, this wont’ be happening until 2014 or so. with any luck, we’ll have a new government by then who will waste another few billion taxpayer euros on consultant reports saying that it might not be a good idea after all.
December 12th, 2007 @ 11:26 am
Has anybody else noticed that the on-line petition was organised by Mary Lou McDonald? I’m suprised it wasn’t mentioned yet by anyone, and can only presume that’s because you lot haven’t signed it yet.
-So sign it, now! Or the boys will be giving you an early wake-up call in the morning.
No, seriously, sign it. Now.
And get everyone you know with an e-mail address to sign it too.
December 12th, 2007 @ 11:32 am
Forgot to post the link to the petition, so here it is;
http://www.petitiononline.com/stlukes.
December 12th, 2007 @ 3:21 pm
When the “Black Madonna” of the irish health system Hearney gets bowl cancer or whatever overweight country maids get she will be looked after in the Blackrock Clinic-not some public MRSA ridden s**thole hospital.!
And just in case they are full of rich cocks*ckers when she gets there shes building lots more like it-right next door to the MRSA cesspits.
December 12th, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
The Shinners smell a bit of good publicity in supporting St Luke´s..
December 12th, 2007 @ 11:54 pm
Hi I all I am the secretary of this campaign before the matter goes on about “shinners” been in this, the reason they are is because out of all the TD’s contacted they were the only ones to get stuck in hands on. I have been contacting all local TD’s on this matter but they refuse to get involved because they feel they have more “pressing matters” to deal with. In case any one thinks I am a pr for “shinners” far from it. From all the td’s we have dealt with the only ones who have done us any good would be SF and labour.
Any way I just wanted to clear that up before it opens
a can of worms about SF. We are hoping for a big turn out on Saturday and I am sure we are going to get it. There has been a lot of people contacted and we have handed out 10,000 leaflets and put up over 200 posters. The more people we get on the street on Saturday the more notice it will give to the media to make this story go nationwide. There has been a lot of talk about Cancer hospitals over Ireland but not much about St Lukes. At the end of the day it seems the goverment will move it to ST James and sell the 9 acre
site which in 2006 was 120 Million.
Address by Minister Micheál Martin, T.D., at the publication of the Report on the Development of Radiation Oncology Services in Ireland
“The Group accepts that St. Luke´s Hospital does not meet all of the guidelines it has established for a future radiation oncology centre. The Group considers that there are two options for St. Luke´s : either it extends to provide the extensive surgical and medical services or its radiation oncology services are transferred on a phased basis to a major teaching hospital on the South side that has all of the relevant medical and surgical services recommended by the Group.”
Why the services can not be extended on Saint lukes is the question that needs to be answered
I am just a worried person
I have no party ties and I hope to see u all on Saturday
Ciaran Behan
December 13th, 2007 @ 2:25 pm
It would be even better if you kept all of them two timing, self serving,lying fuc*ing ratbag politicos out of the picture entirely. Otherwise Ahern and Harney will just point the finger and try and have it dismissed as an “anti Fianna Fail stunt”.