Written answers

Tuesday, 20 February 2007

Department of Health and Children

Hospital Services

10:00 am

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 335: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if it is proposed to provide public radiotherapy services on-site at Waterford Regional Hospital as part of the Health Service Executive's plan to build a radiation oncology facility there; if radiotherapy will be delivered on-site within the proposed major oncology development at WRH; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6317/07]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The development of radiation oncology at Waterford Regional Hospital (WRH) is an integral part of the Government's National Plan for Radiation Oncology. This will be part of a major oncology development at WRH, including the provision of a 20 bed oncology day ward. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that it is not intended to provide this development under its co-location initiative at the hospital.

It is my objective and that of the HSE to see the earliest delivery of the Plan in the best interests of cancer patients throughout the country. In December last year I met with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the HSE and discussed the timelines for the delivery of the National Plan. The HSE is examining options to speed up the pace of delivery and will make recommendations to me shortly. In the interim, a service level agreement was signed on 1 February between the HSE and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre Whitfield Clinic in County Waterford. This will support the referral of public patients for radiation oncology treatment pending the commissioning of the radiation oncology centre at WRH.

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