Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

I thank Senators Finucane and Cummins for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I would like to take this opportunity to set out the current position with regard to national radiation oncology services.

Last July, the Tánaiste announced the Government's approval for a national network of radiation oncology, work on which will commence in 2008 and be completed by 2011. The national plan will mean an investment in additional capacity to the equivalent of 23 additional linear accelerators. The capital investment involved will be approximately €480 million, most of it funded through public private partnerships over the period to 2011.

The network will consist of four large radiotherapy centres in Dublin, Cork and Galway and two integrated satellite radiotherapy centres in Limerick and Waterford Regional Hospitals, conditional on their conformity to certain quality assurance arrangements and on the following basis: satellites to be limited to locations which are geographically distant from a large centre but have a population which can support a requirement for a minimum of two linear accelerators; satellites to be integrated with one of the four large centres to ensure maintenance of standards and adherence to protocols; radiation staff to be employed by large centres, subject to agreement and arrangements where there are pre-existing employment contracts; and radiation staff to rotate in and out of large centres to maintain and develop skills and knowledge.

In 2004, the former Mid-Western Health Board provided a site at Limerick Regional Hospital to the Mid-Western Hospitals Development Trust for the development of a radiation oncology facility. The trust in turn contracted the Mater Private Hospital to run the service. To date, patients in Limerick have been referred for treatment to the radiation oncology departments at Cork University Hospital and University College Hospital, Galway. The HSE explored with the Mid-Western Hospitals Development Trust the possibility of the facility at Limerick becoming a satellite to be integrated with University College Hospital, Galway, in the context of the national plan. The question of access to this unit for public patients is a matter for the HSE and is subject to adherence to national quality assurance guidelines. The funding of public patients so referred is also a matter for the HSE.

In this regard, the national radiation oncology co-ordinating group provides advice to the Tánaiste and the HSE on radiation oncology. A leading consultant in the mid-west is a member of this group. The group recently submitted quality standards for the provision of radiation oncology services for public patients to the Tánaiste. I expect that any service agreement involving the HSE and the centre will reflect these guidelines.

Since 1997, we have provided additional cumulative funding of over €60 million to support the development of cancer treatment services in the mid-western area. This investment has resulted in the appointment of an additional eight consultant posts in specialties such as medical oncology, histopathology, haematology and surgery and the appointment of an additional 22 clinical nurse specialists.

I have described in broad outline the considerable investment and planning for the development of radiation oncology services nationally and in the mid-west in particular. This reflects the commitment of the Government to cancer care in the region. I see significant potential for the centre as part of the integrated national network announced by the Tánaiste last July. This will have major benefits for patients in the mid-west. I encourage all relevant parties to act on this element of Government policy as a matter of priority in the interest of developing the centre to its true and full potential.

The Tánaiste and I have acknowledged the work of the Mid-Western Hospitals Development Trust in bringing forward radiotherapy in the mid-west. Throughout the health sector, we support and salute innovation and work by charitable organisations to provide new services and support for patients. The HSE is currently in discussions with the trust to agree a fair and sustainable basis for payment for public patients using the facility. The trust's offer to pay for public patients was well received. These discussions are entirely appropriate and normal in respect of any services paid for by the State. I am confident they will reach a speedy conclusion in the context of the preparation of the Estimates and the HSE service plan for next year. Both the HSE and the trust will find mutually acceptable arrangements, including financial issues, to make this happen.