Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. The model of care for hospital cancer treatment is centred on eight designated cancer centres, each serving a defined population and geographic area.University Hospital Galway, UHG, is one of the eight designated cancer centres. The centralisation of specialist services into designated cancer centres aims to optimise patient outcomes through case volume, multidisciplinary working and infrastructural supports. As part of the Saolta University Health Care Group, UHG is the Saolta model 4 hospital delivering 24 hours a day, seven days a week emergency medicine, acute medicine, acute surgery, critical care, maternity, neonatal, paediatric, cancer, laboratory and radiology, alongside a wide range of tertiary referral services for the Saolta Group.

Recommendation 15 of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 sets a goal of ultimately developing at least one comprehensive cancer care centre in Ireland that will optimise cancer prevention, treatment, education and research during the strategy period. It was always envisaged the development of such a centre could only be achieved towards the latter part of the strategy period. The Department of Health and the national cancer control programme, NCCP, have had preliminary discussions on the best way forward, including the possibilities for comprehensive cancer networks across regions or internationally. These issues are also the subject of much debate in other EU countries in the context of the Europe's Beating Cancer plan. It is envisaged that proposals on a way forward in Ireland will be defined shortly, at which stage the matter will submitted to Government for approval.

With regard to the development of a comprehensive cancer centre at University Hospital Galway, the National Development Plan 2021-2030 sets out, "In accordance with balanced regional development, a cancer care network for the Saolta region (West, North West) with a Cancer Centre at Galway University Hospital with appropriate infrastructure will be delivered." The Saolta cancer managed clinical and academic network, MCAN, has been formulating proposals for the development of the cancer infrastructure at UHG, with the goal of becoming a comprehensive cancer centre, along with a network of enhanced ambulatory cancer services at Letterkenny, Sligo, Castlebar and Portiuncula. Both the NCCP and the Department acknowledge the work that has been initiated in this regard. However, the national policy in regard to a comprehensive cancer centre and cancer structures nationally has yet to be worked up and agreed. It is most important that developments in UHG and Saolta fit in with the national approach and take realistic account of the overall limitation on resources.

Furthermore, a new €56 million radiation oncology facility is under construction at UHG under the national programme for radiation oncology, NPRO. The facility will include seven radiotherapy treatment vaults, a brachytherapy suite, two CT rooms, MRI, on-treatment support and ancillary physics, treatment planning and administration facilities. Construction of this new facility is expected to be completed in 2023.

The Department of Health and the NCCP continue to work closely with UHG on short-term actions to continue to support the delivery of cancer services through UHG and the Saolta hospital group.