Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator McHugh for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I hope that I will be able to provide the clarification that he sought. If further information is required, I will do my best to get it for him.

Acute hospital services for Donegal are provided at the general hospitals in Letterkenny and Sligo. Donegal residents who were referred for radiotherapy services previously had to travel to Dublin.

In July 2005, the Government decided that the best option for improving geographic access to radiation oncology services for patients in the north west was to facilitate access to Belfast City Hospital, BCH, in the short term. Last autumn, the Minister agreed with the then Minister for Health in Northern Ireland, Mr. Sean Woodward MP, that the radiation oncology centre at BCH would provide treatment to patients from Donegal. A project board was established under the aegis of Co-operation and Working Together, CAWT, to deliver on the ministerial commitment. It includes representatives from BCH, Altnagelvin hospital, Letterkenny hospital, the Health Service Executive and the two Departments.

I am pleased to inform the House that a service level agreement has been reached for the referral of about 50 radiation oncology patients annually from Donegal to BCH. It has also been agreed that the number will be increased if there is sufficient demand from patients in Donegal. Patient pathways have been developed, and the Health Service Executive and BCH have agreed the basis for costing the service provided by BCH. Three assessment clinics will be held each month on an ongoing basis. The first referral clinic took place on 8 November and patients are being referred for treatment.

Under the agreement, patients who are considered by the consultant radiation oncologist at Letterkenny General Hospital to require radiotherapy will be offered the choice of being referred to BCH. I am advised that patients in south Donegal receive oncology services at Sligo General Hospital. Those patients will be referred as appropriate for radiation oncology services to University College Hospital, Galway, and St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin.

The service for patients accepted for radiotherapy by BCH will be delivered in accordance with the standards set out in agreed clinical and social care governance guidelines. Patients have the option of choosing the location that suits them best regarding travel time, transport arrangements and other personal or family circumstances. The HSE is also committed to supporting the travel needs of patients in Donegal referred to BCH.

This agreement reflects the significant commitment by the Government to developing North-South co-operation in health. On behalf of the Minister, I acknowledge the work of the hospitals, the CAWT and the respective Departments.

The Government is committed to making the full range of cancer services available and accessible to cancer patients throughout Ireland. There is considerable political, departmental and service commitment to delivering on the agreement. It is important, therefore, that the initiative succeeds, as it will support further co-operation in health care, including cancer care.