Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 119: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, in the context of the policy decision to put a cancer satellite centre into the north west announced in summer 2005, a defined timescale for the progression of this project exists; and if she will make a statement on the importance of this announcement for the current and future services of Letterkenny General Hospital. [37073/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Government has agreed that the best option in terms of improving geographic access for patients in the north west is to facilitate access for those patients to radiation oncology services as part of North-South co-operation on cancer. Specifically, it was agreed: that the issue of access in the short term to the radiation oncology centre at Belfast City Hospital for patients in the north west would be progressed; and to progress consideration of a joint initiative for the provision of oncology services in the medium term to patients in the north west from a satellite centre linked to Belfast City Hospital.

I have agreed with the Minister for Health for Northern Ireland, Mr. Shaun Woodward MP, that the new Belfast Cancer Centre, which is due to open next March, will treat patients from County Donegal. Details of the arrangements will be finalised in discussions involving the Health Service Executive, Belfast City Hospital and our respective Departments. This will involve assessment of the specific radiotherapy needs of cancer patients in County Donegal and the development of clinical treatment protocols, including appropriate transport arrangements, to ensure best patient care. Discussions will also be necessary on the funding arrangements involving the hospital and the HSE.

The Deputy will appreciate that my first priority was to gain access for cancer patients in the north west to Belfast City Hospital as early as possible. The issue of a satellite centre in the north west will continue to be progressed as a joint initiative involving bilateral discussions at departmental and political levels.