An Oncologist is warning recent disruption to cancer diagnosis and treatment could increase mortality for "next decade".
Professor Seamus O'Reilly says 73 additional consultant oncologists will be needed to meet demand on services.
Prior to Covid-19, cancer diagnoses were increasing by 5% per year.
Seamus O'Reilly, Consultant Oncologist at Cork University Hospital says delays to diagnosis could mean worse outcomes for some patients.
"All of the scientific studies have indicated that there was drop off in cancer diagnosis during the Covid-19 pandemic, and that those cases will come to light in the time ahead.
"We're concerned that they're going to be more advanced than they would have been if they were picked up earlier, we're concerned that they're going to need more treatment and diagnostics, and the outcome might not be as good as it should have been if they were picked up earlier."
