Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Health and Children, further to Question No. 243 of 1 June 2004, when a deal was signed on behalf of his Department using money from the Limerick Trust Fund whereby public patients will be treated in the mid-western region at the private hospital under the deal with the Mater Hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18185/04]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Health and Children, further to Question No. 243 of 1 June 2004, the financial implications for either his Department or the Mid-Western Health Board in regard to the new private radiotherapy hospital in Limerick to provide public patients with cover (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18186/04]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 and 135 together.

Neither I nor my Department are parties to any deal or agreement regarding the treatment of public patients at a private radiation oncology facility that is to be established in the mid-western region.

I have met with both the Mid-Western Hospitals Development Trust and the Mid-Western Health Board in relation to the proposal for the development of a radiation oncology unit on the campus of the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick. The proposal is for a facility to be constructed on a site made available by the Mid-Western Health Board with funds provided by the Mid-Western Hospitals Development Trust. I understand the trust intends to make arrangements with a private hospital to operate the facility on its behalf. My understanding is that it is intended to treat public and private patients at this facility. However, I have been assured that the development will not require revenue or capital resources from my Department.

I have advised the representatives of the Mid-Western Health Board of the establishment of a national radiation oncology co-ordinating group which will advise, inter alia, on the national co-ordination and delivery of existing and planned radiation oncology services, including agreeing quality assurance protocols and guidelines for the referral of public patients to private facilities.

My plans for the development of radiation oncology services are in line with the report of the expert working group on the development of radiation oncology services in Ireland, which I launched in October 2003. Its recommendations have been accepted by Government. The Government agrees that a major programme is now required to rapidly develop clinical radiation oncology treatment services to modern standards. Furthermore, the Government has agreed that the first phase of such a new programme should be the development of a clinical network of large centres in Dublin, Cork and Galway. The development of these centres as a clinical network is of paramount importance and will, in the shortest possible timeframe, begin to address the profound deficit in radiation therapy capacity that has been identified in the report. The implementation of the report's recommendations is my single most important priority in cancer services in the acute setting.

In relation to patients in the mid-western region, significant progress is being made to ensure improved access to radiation oncology services that are in line with best international practice at the supra-regional centres at Cork University Hospital and University College Hospital Galway. The immediate developments in Cork and Galway will result in the provision of an additional five linear accelerators. This represents an increase of approximately 50% in linear accelerator capacity. I have provided for the appointment of an additional five consultant radiation oncologists. Recruitment for these posts is under way. Two of these posts will have significant sessional commitments to the mid-western region. We currently have ten consultant radiation oncologists nationally. This will result in a significant increase in the numbers of patients receiving radiation oncology in the short term.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the discussions which have taken place between his Department and the South Eastern Health Board regarding the provision of radiotherapy services for public patients and the promoters of a €45 million private hospital planned for Butlerstown North, County Waterford (details supplied); the outcome of such discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18187/04]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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No discussions have taken place between my Department, the South Eastern Health Board and the promoters of a private hospital planned for County Waterford in relation to the provision of radiotherapy services for public patients. My Department has not committed any revenue or capital resources towards the provision of radiotherapy services in private hospitals.

My plans for the development of radiation oncology services are in line with the report of the expert working group on the development of radiation oncology services in Ireland, which I launched in October 2003. Its recommendations have been accepted by Government. The Government agrees that a major programme is now required to rapidly develop clinical radiation oncology treatment services to modern standards. Furthermore, the Government has agreed that the first phase of such a new programme should be the development of a clinical network of large centres in Dublin, Cork and Galway. The development of these centres as a clinical network is of paramount importance and will, in the shortest possible timeframe, begin to address the profound deficit in radiation therapy services that has been identified in the report. The implementation of the report's recommendations is the single most important priority of my Department in cancer services in the acute setting.

In relation to patients in the south eastern region, significant progress is being made to ensure improved access to radiation oncology services that are in line with best international practice. Approval has issued for the provision of two additional linear accelerators for the supra-regional centre at Cork University Hospital and the necessary capital investment amounting to over €4 million to commission the service as rapidly as possible. In 2004, €1 million ongoing revenue funding is being made available for this development which will improve services for cancer patients in the Southern, South Eastern and Mid-Western Health Boards.

The immediate developments in the south and west will result in the provision of an additional five linear accelerators. This represents an increase of approximately 50% in linear accelerator capacity. We have provided for the appointment of an additional five consultant radiation oncologists. Recruitment for these posts is under way. One of these posts will have significant sessional commitments to the south eastern region. We currently have ten consultant radiation oncologists nationally. These developments will result in a significant increase in the numbers of patients receiving radiation oncology in the short term.

It is my intention to develop a national integrated network of radiation oncology, based on equitable access regardless of location and an effective national quality assurance programme. As recommended in the report, I have established the national radiation oncology co-ordinating group. The group comprises clinical, technical, managerial, academic and nursing expertise from different geographic regions. The group's remit encompasses the national co-ordination and delivery of existing and planned radiation oncology services, including agreeing quality assurance protocols and guidelines for the referral of public patients to private facilities. I expect the group to develop proposals in these important areas.