‘Daffodil Day’ hope is hit by hospital cancellations

THERE are few more potent symbols of hope in this country than the sight of those ‘golden hosts’ of daffodils. Their vivid blooms reassure us that winter is exiting and that longer, warmer days beckon. They tell us the year has turned. So, it was very prescient of anti-cancer crusaders in the Irish Cancer Society to choose the daffodil as one of their key symbols. Friday marks the 30th ‘Daffodil Day’ in Ireland.

Pretty well everyone knows somebody who has been hit by the awful scourge that is cancer. Daffodil Day is a huge focus of solidarity and a source of hope for all of us.

But it risks being undone by yet more bad news from our troubled health services. Tom Ryan, president of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, has today laid things on the line.

“The current practice of healthcare rationing is the root cause of the trolley crisis and the ever-growing waiting lists. Now this practice is resulting in the cancellation of essential surgery with increasing frequency,” he said.

Sadly, these surgery cancellations also include urgent operations for those battling against cancer. It is too dreadful a prospect to contemplate.

Every day in Ireland, selfless professional people in our health service help people to win against cancer. But the problem of delays must be addressed.

People seeking to defeat the blight that is cancer, and their families, deserve every bit of support they can get.