“People are prioritising heating and eating over health appointments” 

New research reveals widespread barriers to healthcare across Ireland

Monday 11 November: Getting the right healthcare at the right time is out of reach for many people, the Irish Cancer Society has warned today.   

New research from Core Research, commissioned by the Irish Cancer Society, uncovers alarming barriers faced by people accessing the health system in Ireland, showing many are forced to prioritise costs such as heating and eating over attending medical appointments. 

The public were surveyed about their experiences with and perceptions of the healthcare sector. Key findings from the Healthcare Access survey include:  

• More people are avoiding healthcare now compared to last year. Over 1 in 4 people did not go to a medical appointment when they needed to in the 3 months before they were surveyed.  
• Costs are locking people out of healthcare – more than 3 in 10 people didn’t go to a healthcare appointment because they simply couldn’t afford to.  
• 1 in 4 people feel they must prioritise other costs over their healthcare, including heating and eating. 
• Almost 2 in 5 put off a medical appointment due to pressures in the system 
• More than 1 in 10 people are waiting more than 4 months for a health test in Ireland. 
• 1 in 3 people nationally have waited too long for a test or treatment that they ended up paying privately. 

The research also reveals that just 1 in 5 people believe the Government has invested enough in cancer services, and 9 in 10 people said there was a need for the Government to recruit more healthcare staff.  

1 in 2 people will get a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime and around 210,000 people will be diagnosed over the course of the next government’s term. The Irish Cancer Society is calling on the next government to prioritise health and cancer care. 

Their three key asks are:

• Fully fund the National Cancer Strategy to deliver promised improvements in health outcomes across the cancer spectrum.
• Reduce the cost of cancer by abolishing hospital car parking charges, providing an automatic entitlement to medical cards and providing vital financial support to patients with a life limiting cancer diagnosis.
• Legislate on the Right to Be Forgotten for cancer patients so they do not have to disclose their cancer diagnosis after 5 years, with independent oversight and penalties for companies who breach this right.

 Averil Power, CEO, Irish Cancer Society said: “It's shocking that people are left with no choice but to prioritise other costs like heating and eating above paying for medical appointments. One in four of us have put off going to a healthcare appointment when we needed to. For many of us, getting the healthcare we need when we need it is simply out of reach.

We already have the third highest cancer deaths in Western Europe, and Ireland’s cancer rates are expected to double by 2045. So, it’s really concerning that more and more people are avoiding healthcare now compared to last year. The big risk is that this could result in missed cancers, resulting in late-stage diagnoses and ultimately worse outcomes for cancer patients.   

More needs to be done in the next Government to improve patient outcomes and to ensure everyone who receives a cancer diagnosis can access the best possible care, without financial barriers. Early detection is crucial to saving lives – people should not be forced to choose between putting food on the table or accessing healthcare when they need it.” 

ENDS