Why did Catherine Sherry have to travel to London for treatment?

Despite the specialized CAR-T cell therapy being available at St. James's Hospital in Dublin, there was no agreement between the Department of Health in Northern Ireland and their counterpart in Ireland to allow Northern Ireland patients to access this treatment across the border.

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Mother Dies After Forced to Travel for Cancer Treatment

Q: What happened to Catherine Sherry?

Catherine Sherry, a 42-year-old mother of three from Co Down, passed away earlier this year after having to travel to London for cancer treatment that was available just 60 miles away in Dublin.

Q: How did the travel to London affect Catherine Sherry's health?

The repeated air travel while Catherine was severely immunosuppressed weakened her and left her unable to fight the infection that ultimately led to her death. She passed away far from home and her children.

7 Aug

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Summary

Mother battling cancer died after traveling to London for treatment
Treatment was available just 60 miles away in Dublin
Repeated air travel weakened her and led to fatal infection

In a tragic case, a Co Down mother battling cancer passed away earlier this year after having to travel to London for treatment that was available just 60 miles down the road in Dublin. Catherine Sherry, a 42-year-old mother of three, faced "repeated air travel while she was severely immuno-suppressed," which weakened her and left her unable to fight the infection that ultimately led to her death.

The Sherry family is now leading a campaign to change the current NHS policy that forced Catherine to travel long distances for care, resulting in her untimely demise. Councillors in Newry, Mourne and Down District Council have approved a motion acknowledging the devastating toll that the repeated air travel had on Catherine's health, and are urging the health ministers in Northern Ireland and Ireland to negotiate an agreement that would allow patients to access the specialized CAR-T cell therapy in Dublin, without having to leave their families behind.

The councillors recognized that the infrastructure and expertise exist, and the only thing missing is the political will to make this treatment available closer to home for Northern Ireland patients. They emphasized that no mother should have to leave her children to fight for her life in another country, and that the system has failed to provide the best fighting chance for Catherine and others like her.

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