Niall Blaney (Donegal North East, IND-FF)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 156: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans to provide radiotherapy services in the north west; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18148/05]

Niall Blaney (Donegal North East, IND-FF)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 157: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will develop a radiotherapy service in the north west in conjunction with health services in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18149/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together.

Patients in the north west are being referred for radiation oncology treatment to the recently commissioned radiation oncology department at University College Hospital Galway, UCHG, and also to St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin. A consultant radiation oncologist with significant sessional commitments to the north-western area has recently been appointed to UCHG. In addition, further discussions are scheduled to take place in June between the HSE north-western area and Belfast City Hospital regarding access to radiation oncology services for patients in the north west, mainly in Donegal. The state-of-the-art facility at Belfast City Hospital is scheduled to open in early 2006.