County backs call for Leeside stem cell unit
Cork County Council has added its weight to a major campaign calling for the construction of a stem cell transplant unit at CUH.
Consultants from CUH and a number of campaigners were welcomed to County Hall on Tuesday where a motion was passed calling on the Government to take action.
Since stem cell collection ceased at CUH in 2008, Cork patients with blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma have been forced to travel to either Galway or Dublin for treatment.
It is understood that the construction of a state-of-the-art stem cell and CAR-T therapy unit at CUH would cost in the region of €27 million, though funding is yet to secured.
Tabling the motion on Tuesday was Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Bernard Moynihan (Fianna Fáil) who called on the HSE and Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD to take heed of the campaign. The mayor said it is unacceptable that cancer patients in Cork should have to travel to Dublin or Galway for treatment, where services are already close to capacity.
The motion was passionately supported across the chamber with Labour Party councillor Ronan Sheehan saying the people of Cork will no longer accept being treated as second-class citizens when it comes to healthcare.
“Cork and Munster just deserve better,” he said. “Our people deserve equality and dignity and access to treatment closer to home.”
Also voicing support was Fianna Fáil councillor Gillian Coughlan who described the loss of CUH’s stem cell treatment facility as the “backsliding of services” for people in the region.
“It is not good enough that we would see the stripping out of services in our region,” said Cllr Coughlan. “University Hospital Galway has been invested in for this, and St James' Hospital (Dublin) I believe only recently. Beaumont Hospital (Dublin) has received further top-up investment on this. So, the entire southern region has been neglected.
“I have corresponded with the Taoiseach on it, and he is aware that this is a pressing need,” she added.
In 2026 to date, 77 patients from Cork and Kerry have been referred for cellular therapy, with 60 either having received treatment or are scheduled to receive treatment in the coming weeks. The other 17 patients are awaiting assessment at one of the two designated national centres.
Campaign
Leading the campaign for a new stem cell therapy unit at CUH is Cork country musician Mags McCarthy whose 70 year old father has been travelling back and forth from St James' Hospital in Dublin for stem cell treatment.
“This service at CUH has been discussed for 20 years. Our health is our wealth!” said Ms McCarthy.
Earlier this month, Ms McCarthy, along with patient advocates, clinicians, and leading international transplant experts, delivered a presentation to TDs at Leinster House.
The campaign has since gained much traction, with Cork Senator Eileen Lynch (Fine Gael), and Cork TDs Michael Collins (Independent Ireland) and Pádraig O'Sullivan (FF) amongst those lending their voices.
HSE considers proposals
Commenting on the ongoing campaign, a HSE South West spokesperson said the organisation is considering proposals for a Stem Cell Tissue Establishment and Advanced Cellular Therapies Unit at CUH, which would support the delivery of stem cell transplantation and future cellular therapies closer to home for patients across the South West.
The spokesperson said: "While the project is not included in the current approved HSE Capital Plan 2026-2030, it remains under consideration through the established capital planning and approval processes.
"Accordingly, any future progression of the project is subject to the necessary appraisal, approval, budgetary and capital funding processes. A project team will then be established to advance the development of the facility, which remains a potential strategic priority for the future development of cancer and haematology services in the region."