Written answers

Wednesday, 28 September 2005

Department of Health and Children

Hospital Services

9:00 pm

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 245: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress made to date in her discussions with the authorities in the Six Counties on the sharing of radiation oncology facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24445/05]

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 246: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her proposed arrangements for sharing of radiation oncology facilities in the Six Counties will apply only to patients in the north west region and not to the rest of the Border region; if patients from counties Cavan, Monaghan and Louth will also be able to access services in Belfast, Derry and Letterkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24446/05]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 246 together.

The Government considers that the best option for improving geographic access for patients in the north-western area is to facilitate access for them to radiation oncology services as part of North-South co-operation on cancer. I have met the Minister for health for Northern Ireland, Mr. Shaun Woodward MP, to discuss access by patients mainly in the north-west to radiation oncology services at Belfast City Hospital. This state-of-the-art facility is scheduled to open in March 2006. I will meet Mr. Woodward again to further progress the Government's position on radiation oncology. Officials from my Department will also meet shortly with officials from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland. As regards cancer patients in the other counties referred to by the Deputy, a new radiation oncology centre is being provided at Beaumont Hospital on the north side of Dublin as part of the national network for radiation oncology services. The centre will meet the major radiation oncology requirements of patients in the counties mentioned. Patients from the north-east are currently referred for treatment to St. Luke's Hospital on the south side of Dublin.

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