Chemotherapy Delays Persist at Cork University Hospital, Raising Cancer Care Concerns
Patients in Cork faced significant delays in receiving crucial chemotherapy and breast cancer surgery in 2025, with Cork University Hospital (CUH) lagging behind other facilities nationwide. New data reveals ongoing challenges in cancer care access within the region, prompting calls for increased investment and staffing.
Chemotherapy Treatment Wait Times
Figures released by the Health Service Executive (HSE) indicate that only 575 out of 836 patients at CUH who were deemed ready for treatment received their first cycle of systemic therapy within the recommended 15 working days. This translates to a 31.2% delay rate, positioning CUH as the third-worst performer in the country, trailing behind University Hospital Waterford and St Luke’s Hospital Dublin. [Source: The Journal]
Breast Cancer Surgery Delays
Access to surgery for breast cancer patients at CUH was also hampered by delays. Only 132 of the 215 patients requiring surgical intervention received treatment within the recommended 20-day timeframe. While seven more patients underwent surgery in 2025 compared to the previous year, over 80 patients still exceeded the recommended wait time, making CUH the second-worst hospital nationally, surpassed only by St James’s Hospital in Dublin. [Source: The Journal]
Outpatient Wait Times for Breast Surgery
Data from the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) further highlights the strain on breast cancer services at CUH. More than 2,300 outpatients are currently awaiting their first breast surgery appointment, with 81 waiting over six months and 26 waiting more than nine months. [Source: The Journal]
Calls for Improvement
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, Sinn Féin Cork South Central TD, expressed concern over the data, stating, “We cannot allow cancer care to go backwards.” He emphasized that the issues are systemic, affecting patients at all stages of their cancer journey. Ó Laoghaire pointed to a lack of equipment, outdated infrastructure and staffing shortages as key contributing factors. He stressed the need for modern equipment coupled with adequate staffing to maximize capacity. [Source: The Journal]
Recent Investment in Cancer Services
The HSE South West announced a €2.3 million investment in cancer services in July 2025, aimed at improving care across the region over an 18-month period. This funding supports eight new projects and the creation of 16.5 healthcare jobs, including nurses, doctors, and oncology support staff. [Source: HSE South West] The investment includes specialist nursing support for lung cancer patients, a new family breast cancer pathway for early detection, and support for adolescents and young adults with cancer.
Cork University Hospital and Cancer Treatment
Cork University Hospital has confirmed the availability of a machine to prevent hair loss for patients undergoing chemotherapy. [Source: EchoLive] During the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, University College Cork (UCC) provided facilities for the HSE to deliver chemotherapy treatments at the Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, ensuring continued care for vulnerable patients. [Source: UCC]