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

Question 208: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when she intends announcing the provision of cancer care services in the north west following her announcement in July 2005 that it is intended to base cancer care services in the north west; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33370/05]

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

Question 209: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when she intends announcing the location for the new cancer care services in the north west following her announcement in July 2005 that it is intended to base cancer care services in the north west; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33371/05]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together.

The national plan for radiation oncology, which I announced last July, provides for an integrated network of radiation oncology services that will ensure equitable access and outcomes for patients throughout the country. Patients in the north west are currently being referred for radiation oncology treatment to the recently commissioned radiation oncology department at University College Hospital Galway and also to St. Luke's Hospital Dublin. A new radiation oncology centre is being provided at Beaumont Hospital on Dublin's north side as part of the national network for radiation oncology services. This centre will also be available for the needs of patients in the north west. The precise patient referral pattern will be a matter for the Health Service Executive and will be factored into the planning of the national network.

In addition, the Government is also considering options to facilitate access for patients in the north west, mainly in Donegal, to radiation oncology services in Belfast. The Government decided in July to pursue this option as well as further work to pursue the joint provision of a satellite centre for the north west linked to Belfast. I have already met with the Minister for Health in Northern Ireland, Mr. Shaun Woodward MP, to discuss this and I will be meeting again with him later this month.