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20 percent of consultant posts are not filled,
An oncologist is warning recent disruption to cancer diagnosis and treatment could increase mortality for "next decade".
Professor Seamus O'Reilly says 73 additional consultant oncologists will be needed to meet demand on services.
Prior to Covid-19, cancer diagnoses were increasing by 5 percent per year.
Seamus O'Reilly, Consultant Oncologist at Cork University Hospital says delays to diagnosis could mean worse outcomes for some patients:
🚨 Consultant medical oncologist Professor Seamus O’Reilly @Seamusoreilly18 has warned that disruption to diagnosis and treatment due to the #Covid19 pandemic could increase cancer mortality for the ‘next decade’. #CareCantWait @StephenDonnelly@davidcullinane pic.twitter.com/ovj2JW2FRF
— IHCA (@IHCA_IE) May 25, 2021
The Irish Hospital Consultants Association 20 percent of consultant posts are not filled, meaning patients have to wait longer for treatment.
Professor O'Reilly, says the recent cyber-attack has made catching up on the backlog more difficult: