A "frightening" wave of delayed cancer diagnoses will hit Ireland next year, Taoiseach Michael Martin reportedly warned a FF parliamentary party meeting last week.
Michael Martin, according to a report in the 'Irish Examiner', told the private meeting that medical experts have warned him of “dramatically increasing cancers because of delayed diagnoses” linked to the impact of Covid-19 on the health service.
During the first wave of Covid, there was a significant drop in the number of people presenting to doctors with concerns about cancer.
While this was in line with international experiences, Mr Martin told party members the warnings from the medical profession that what was relayed to them was 'sobering'.
"All over Europe, this is being seen, and it is going to hit us in the next year. Delayed diagnoses, too late for medicine, it was quite frightening," he reportedly said.
Brian Creedon is a Consultant Palliative Medicine Physician attached to UHW.
He spoke to Damien Tiernan on 'Deise Today' this morning (Monday), giving his opinion on whether the situation, as reportedly outlined to the Taoiseach, is accurate.
You can listen back to his interview by clicking on the image above...
