Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not disagree with what the Deputy says. The HSE's national cancer control programme has set performance targets to measure timely access for patients to radiation oncology treatments. The target is that 90% of patients will undergo this therapy treatment within 15 days. According to the national figures for 2016, 83% of patients commenced radiotherapy treatment within 15 working days. In Cork, the figure was 71%, which was slightly below the national average. The latest figures available, which are for January 2017, show that the national figure was 75%, with 72% of Cork patients commencing treatment within 15 working days. While it is not an excuse, the HSE has identified the new equipment as the reason patients' treatment was not able to progress. The HSE hopes the extra linear accelerator machine will allow CUH to process patients faster and possibly outdo the national average.

On the rolling closures, the recruitment embargo has left many hospitals, including CUH, in a difficult position. The opening up of that recruitment means it is hoped to fill those places and to cease rolling closures by the end of April this year. Any of the Deputy's other queries which I may not have addressed, I will bring back to the Minister on his behalf.

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