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Cancer Patients Fear Flight Cuts Will Sever Medical Lifeline
17 Feb
Summary
- Charity meets Transport Minister over proposed flight changes.
- New flight schedule may impact same-day medical access for patients.
- Minister for Health prioritizes expanding local cancer treatment.
A charity advocating for cancer patients expects a resolution following a meeting with the Transport Minister regarding proposed changes to Dublin-Donegal flights. Donegal Cancer Flights and Services fears the alterations to the Public Service Obligation (PSO) route will compromise vital same-day medical access for patients.
The charity highlighted that the previous 21-year practice of aircraft overnighting at Donegal Airport provided essential confidence for patients. The new timetable, featuring a 6:30 am arrival from Dublin and an 8:30 pm departure from Donegal, replaces the old midday flights and raises concerns about seat availability and ticket pricing.
Representatives from Donegal Cancer Flights and Services are seeking a government commitment to maintain reliable same-day and midday medical access. They stressed that this is a critical access-to-care issue for vulnerable families, not a theoretical policy debate, and urged decisive ministerial leadership for tangible progress.
In parallel, the Health Minister indicated a preference for enhancing cancer services within Donegal. She questioned the necessity of travel to Dublin, emphasizing efforts to expand treatments locally, such as approving additional oncology chairs for breast cancer research in Letterkenny.
