A top cancer surgeon in Galway University Hospital has announced his resignation saying that the departure will leave “no one” in the west/northwest of Ireland to perform the surgeries he specialises in.
In a post made on X, Dr. Paul Carroll said, “It is with some reluctance and no little sadness that I announce my resignation as an Upper GI Cancer Surgeon in Galway University Hospital effective May 17th.”
Carroll said that after returning to Ireland from Toronto, “with assurances and guarantees” he spent 5 years building a Minimally Invasive Oesophageal and Gastric Cancer Programme “with the support of Profs. Collins and McAnena.”
He added that this service “also included the only site in Ireland providing Per Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) and the only surgeon delivered Endoscopic Ultrasound/Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection programme for early Esophageal and Gastric cancers.”
Speaking of the results of his resignations from GUH, he said there will now be no one “in the entire west/northwest of Ireland performing these types of cancer surgeries in their minimally invasive forms.”
Dr. Carroll continued saying, “I love what I do” and emphasised what he said was a “privilege” having been invited “to care for people with some of the worst types of cancers.”
He said he is “grateful for the amazing nurses and allied healthcare teams that I have worked with to care for my patients.”
Carroll says he will be moving to Sligo to work as a General Surgeon and will not be permitted to treat the cancers he says he has spent 15 years training towards and 5 years practising as a Consultant Surgeon.
He added that he has made this choice so he can be home with his family.
Speaking about the reasons for his decision to depart GUH he said, “Temporary solutions in Galway have been explored but in reality they kick the can down the road and they don’t solve the systemic issues.”
“I have no answers as to what happens next for Upper GI Cancer Care in the west and this saddens me. Any inquiries need to be directed to hospital management.” he said.