When it comes to treatment every single day matters states Louth Deputy as cancer patients in experience delays to chemotherapy treatment due to supply issues (2024)

"This issue shows how vulnerable the Lourdes Hospital is to any supply-chain problems that might emerge”, he said this morning.

"When it comes to treatment for cancer every single day matters. Constituents have made contact with me to tell me how this serious supply problem has impacted on their treatment or the treatment plan of a loved one".

"It is causing very real distress and worry and every patient is entitled to have clarity”.

The Labour Deputy added, “I have made contact with the Lourdes Hospital on this and I have also urged the HSE to ensure that the Lourdes, as a major acute hospital, develops its own capacity to manufacture/mix chemotherapy product.

"This should have been the case anyway, but with this recent supply chain problem, plans should be put in place to develop capacity at the Lourdes and avoid the risk of this happening again in the future."

The Drogheda TD was responding to a story on independent.ie which highlighted that Our Lady of Lourdes hospital is said to be experiencing a serious shortage of vital chemotherapy drugs, with up to 30 patients’ cancer treatment being postponed due to lack of supply.

A local medical professional described a ‘crisis situation’, with a national shortage of aseptic compounding being felt across a number of hospitals, but the Drogheda facility in particular.

It is reported that 30 patients didn’t get their treatment on the planned date in the last month, either through lack of supply or expired dates on the supply.

Baxter Ireland is the supplier of these life-changing drugs, and they say that patient safety and product quality is their main priority.

"Following a temporary pause of compounding services at our Sandyford facility, production is being resumed in a phased approach. We are utilising our network of compounding units in the UK to supply chemotherapy products where possible and are working to return chemotherapy production to full capacity as quickly as feasible,” said a spokesperson.

“We recognise the criticality of our services to patient care, and as we work to increase capacity, we remain in close contact with relevant national stakeholders and our customers to help minimise impact during this period. We fully respect and understand the impact this disruption is having, and we are mobilising all resources available to try and resolve this situation. In the meantime, we have been advising customers to implement their contingency plans during this time.”

The medical professional, who did not want to be identified, said ‘chemo is being stopped at customs and may not actually make it to the the unit. Many of these drugs have short expiration dates and medications have expired by the time they get to the unit so they can't be used”.

Other facilities reported to be low on aseptic compounding are Portiuncula, Kerry, St. Luke's in Rathgar, with mention of Kilkenny and Tipperary also.

The HSE responded to queries from the independent.ie saying: “Ensuring patients receive timely and quality treatment for their cancer remains a priority for the NCCP (National Cancer Control Programme) and the HSE,” said a spokesperson. “The NCCP were made aware by Baxter Healthcare Ireland on July 31st 2024 that they were experiencing a temporary disruption to their compounding service in their Sandyford facility which resulted in impacts to the supply of compounded Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy products to hospitals. Although this disruption is ongoing, the NCCP has been informed that production has recommenced on a phased approach”.

The HSE added that 16 of the 25 hospitals that provide Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) services have local compounding facilities and are mainly unaffected.

"The hospitals mainly impacted are those who are completely dependent on outsourcing their compounded Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT).”

Our Lady of Lourdes would be included in those impacted facility and staff there are said to be very concerned and frustrated at the situation.

"The NCCP understands that Baxter Healthcare Ireland are working closely with the Health Products Regulatory Authority to resume operations and that they are in regular communication with hospitals,” the statement continued.

“We also understand that they are utilising all available resources to mitigate patient impact including provision of stock products from UK companies”.

Information on impacts on patient numbers will only be known subsequent to the resolution of the capacity issue.