At 8.15am on Monday morning, Betty Holmes got an unexpected phone call.

It was to be the start of a magical day for the Donegal cancer care campaigner, who has dedicated 20+ years to fighting for local services.

The call was from Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to tell Betty that she was backing a new surgical hub at Letterkenny University Hospital.

The development will come with the addition of 30 ambulatory day oncology chairs – 15 new and 15 replacement chairs.

Health Ministers have come and gone, but each one will know the name of Betty Holmes. Her voluntary work with Donegal Action for Cancer Care (DACC) has relentlessly highlighted what Letterkenny University Hospital is lacking and the journeys that Donegal patients have to endure.

Monday was the first time that a Health Minister had ever personally called Betty. Along with the good news, Minister Carroll MacNeill invited her to be part of the formal announcement at LUH.

“The magical moment was outside the hospital, with all the dignitaries there, and me, ‘Joe Soap’ at the back, for her to throw out the arms and hug me,” Betty said. “I felt it was great recognition of the ongoing work of Donegal Action for Cancer Care.”

Minister for Health is Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, TD at Letterkenny University Hospital to announce the new surgical hub on Monday. Pictured to the Minister’s right hand side is Betty Holmes. Photo Clive Wasson

 

At Betty’s first meeting with the Health Minister in May, she presented a map illustrating the seven surgical hubs proposed across the country, with the only North West hub at that time expected to be in Sligo.

Now, with surgical hubs agreed for both Sligo and Letterkenny, it is hoped that they will relieve pressure on the Emergency Departments and acute hospital beds by handling day cases and minor procedures.

The Health Minister has set a two year target for the delivery of the hub on the LUH campus, depending on planning and tendering.

Betty envisages that the ambulatory oncology services will ease the travel needs and costs for patients and their families.

“Yes, there are still specific cancers that will have to go to Dublin or Galway. But it’s a light at the end of a very dark tunnel that we’ve had over a long number of years for patients,” Betty said.

“Patients will have easier access, and better quality of care, not only at the hospital, but also the impact it has on family life, with the cost of having to go to Dublin or Galway. That will be a positive for cancer patients.”

In an address on Monday, the Minister for Health acknowledged the determined campaigners whose efforts led to the upcoming improvements in oncology capacity at LUH.

“It’s a big important step forward but it was needed. I’m very sensitive and very aware of people who are going through cancer treatment and recognise how difficult that is. I want to commend Betty and all of the advocates in this region for their excellent advocacy,” Minister Carroll MacNeill said.

Senator Manus Boyle, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister of State Charlie McConalogue and Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher at Letterkenny University Hospital, Monday 28th July

The Minister also set a “very clear and loudly heard target” of two years for the development of the Letterkenny Surgical Hub.

That timeline is something that Betty will be keeping a close eye on.

“The Minister had praise for the consultants, for the doctors, the management, but she was putting it back in a very clear way that it was up to the hospital and the management to ‘get on the ball’ and make clear, definite action in the 18-24 month timeframe,” Betty said.

“The politicians will all be on their holidays soon but when they come back at the end of September, I’ll still be sitting on top of it, as will my friends in DACC.

“It’s a positive move for Letterkenny, but we will be keeping a very tight eye on it.

“I did tell her, ‘just because you are making a great announcement doesn’t mean you won’t be getting any more emails!’”

‘A light at the end of a very dark tunnel for Donegal cancer patients’ was last modified: August 2nd, 2025 by Rachel McLaughlin

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