Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Eleanor Keegan/Photocall Ireland

Junior minister admits mistakes over Sligo breast cancer services promise

John Perry, who hung up during an interview about his promise for the services, gave a press conference on the issue yesterday.

JUNIOR MINISTER John Perry admitted at a press conference in Sligo last night that it had been a mistake to promise that breast cancer services would be returned to Sligo within the first 100 days of the new government’s term.

Ocean FM reports that Perry did not announce the full restoration of the services during his press conference yesterday, but he said that mammography services would resume in the last quarter of 2011.

The Save Our Cancer Services North West group, which is campaigning for the full restoration of the services, said it was disappointed and called on Perry to resign for failing to fulfil his promise.

Perry hung up the phone during a live interview with Ocean FM recently when questioned about plans to restore the services. Speaking afterwards to TheJournal.ie, Perry said: “I said what I said and I had nothing else to add”.

He also said that restoring the health services was “not a situation of going in and turning the switch back on”.

Poll: How would you grade the government’s first 100 days? >

Read: In numbers: The first 100 days of the Fine Gael-Labour coalition government >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
9 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute LFCMAD_94
    Favourite LFCMAD_94
    Report
    Oct 15th 2020, 5:47 PM

    Another false promise from the government and the HSE.. surprise surprise

    112
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan
    Favourite Alan
    Report
    Oct 15th 2020, 5:51 PM

    @LFCMAD_94: Typical. Blame the HSE and our government fir a worldwide shortage of the flu vacine.

    147
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute LFCMAD_94
    Favourite LFCMAD_94
    Report
    Oct 15th 2020, 5:56 PM

    @Alan: did I blame them for shortages? I blamed them for promising things they will never deliever

    74
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bananaquit
    Favourite Bananaquit
    Report
    Oct 15th 2020, 6:34 PM

    @LFCMAD_94: typical person who didn’t read the article before posting

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patricia O'Reilly
    Favourite Patricia O'Reilly
    Report
    Oct 16th 2020, 12:46 AM

    @Alan: don’t think it is the HSE or government fault.. BLAME the pharmaceutical company’s greed.. the uk seem to have enough. What are we being charged? What are other countries being charged? I smell foul play.. and greed .

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Justin Hanley
    Favourite Justin Hanley
    Report
    Oct 15th 2020, 6:02 PM

    The ceo of hse Paul Reid should be sacked. He comes on TV as if he runs the hse without fault. He is a W a s t e r with no health background and get paid an absorbent amount to push paper and read out prepared statements on tv that are written for him. He can’t even get the flu vacine right,when he new this was coming .
    A total waste of money that a monkey could do his job.

    77
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Harpur Photography
    Favourite Tom Harpur Photography
    Report
    Oct 15th 2020, 6:06 PM

    No issue here rang my Dr a week ago for flu jab had my appointment Tuesday gone. Both my parents only had to wait a few days my friend only had to wait a few days and got both his flu jab and pneumonia jab.

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bren
    Favourite Bren
    Report
    Oct 15th 2020, 6:39 PM

    @Tom Harpur Photography: Someone give this man his medal.

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patricia O'Reilly
    Favourite Patricia O'Reilly
    Report
    Oct 16th 2020, 12:48 AM

    @Tom Harpur Photography: lucky you.. none in the north east

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Úna O Connor Barrett
    Favourite Úna O Connor Barrett
    Report
    Oct 15th 2020, 6:33 PM

    If you could get through to the gp it might help.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Toni
    Favourite Toni
    Report
    Oct 15th 2020, 6:57 PM

    This country is the biggest joke. Encouraging everyone to get the flu vaccine and not even having enough for the most vulnerable. Absolute shambles

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan
    Favourite Alan
    Report
    Oct 15th 2020, 7:01 PM

    @Toni: try actually reading the article.

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute J
    Favourite J
    Report
    Oct 15th 2020, 6:19 PM

    Flu cases are going to plummet this year anyway with all this social distancing. Flu is not as contagious as COVID.

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anne Marie Devlin
    Favourite Anne Marie Devlin
    Report
    Oct 15th 2020, 7:16 PM

    @J: and it’s the same cohort that is at risk from Covid. So they are unlikely to be hit with the flu and Covid at separate times

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lorraine Mac Rory
    Favourite Lorraine Mac Rory
    Report
    Oct 15th 2020, 8:14 PM

    @Anne Marie Devlin: why?

    8
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tommy Roche
    Favourite Tommy Roche
    Report
    Oct 15th 2020, 11:38 PM

    @J: Most flu variants would be just as contagious as Covid, but dont spread as widely due to limited opportunity. The majority of people infected with Covid can be walking around and interacting with others while having little or no symptoms for the entirety of their infection. The majority of people infected with a flu virus will have nasty, fast onset symptoms which means they will be at home in bed and interacting with very few within hours of the symptoms first appearing. I’ve only had flu twice in my life with the last time being roughly 25yrs ago, but its an illness you don’t forget in a hurry.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Glammymammy
    Favourite Glammymammy
    Report
    Oct 15th 2020, 7:52 PM

    “In contrast to COVID, children are vectors for flu”. This is ridiculous. Of course children spread COVID. Not their fault but they spread everything. As a mother myself, I have first hand experience of this. Not saying we should close schools but thinking that kids don’t spread it is serious denial.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Stapleton
    Favourite David Stapleton
    Report
    Oct 15th 2020, 7:26 PM

    One thing this pandemic showed was that the medical system in France isn’t quite as good as people thought it was, but we can still get the flu vaccine free at any pharmacy….

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Barbara Stewart
    Favourite Barbara Stewart
    Report
    Oct 16th 2020, 10:30 AM

    @David Stapleton: only if they have a supply!!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute CarrieRanger
    Favourite CarrieRanger
    Report
    Nov 1st 2020, 7:31 PM

    Any update on the flu vaccine supply situation? Looks like loads of vulnerable people are not going to be able to get it this year

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds