Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the timeframe for the transfer of oncology services out of St. Luke's Hospital, Rathgar; her plans for the hospital site once this takes place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41273/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Government and I are anxious to build on the expertise and ethos of St. Luke's. It is held in great affection by the Irish people. Many thousands of Irish patients and their families from every part of the country have experienced high quality cancer care at St. Luke's.

The decision to transfer St. Luke's Hospital to St. James's Hospital, Dublin was taken by the Government in the best interests of cancer patients. The decision was based on expert medical, scientific and management advice. It is designed to ensure that radiation oncology is integrated with all other aspects of cancer care, including surgery and medical oncology. It is in line with best international practice. This is the model that exists at Cork University Hospital and University College Hospital Galway and which is being developed at Beaumont and St. James's Hospitals, Dublin.

The Board of St. Luke's Hospital and its Executive Management Team are fully committed to supporting this decision. A transfer on similar lines took place earlier this year in Northern Ireland when radiation oncology services transferred from a stand alone facility to Belfast City Hospital, which is a major academic teaching hospital. In recognition of the role for St. Luke's in the new facility at St. James's, I have made a commitment to pursue discussions with the Boards of both Hospitals about its governance and a re-configuration of the Boards, with the twin goals of ensuring continuity of expertise and ethos in the care of cancer patients and the effective integration of multidisciplinary patient care at the one site. I remain confident the transition will be managed with great sensitivity and skill by the two hospital Boards to achieve those objectives.