Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 288: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will preview her efficiency plans for service plans at St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin; if these plans will result in a contraction of services provided at the hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4617/10]

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

Under the National Plan for Radiation Oncology (NPRO), there will be a network of four radiotherapy centres and two satellite centres by 2014. The four main centres will be located at Beaumont, St James's, Cork and Galway plus two satellite centres – Limerick and Waterford. It is intended that services at the existing facility in St Luke's in Dublin will have transferred in full to Beaumont and St James's by the end of 2014. This decision is based on expert advice and is designed to ensure that radiation oncology is integrated with all other aspects of cancer care, including surgery and medical oncology. This is in line with best international practice.

The Board of St. Luke's Hospital and its Executive Management Team are fully committed to supporting the Government's decision in relation to the development of radiation oncology and a Transition Team has been established to oversee developments.

Phase 1 of the NPRO involves the construction of new facilities at St. James's Hospital and Beaumont Hospital and is currently underway and on target for completion by the end of this year. The first stage of the transfer of services from St Luke's to these hospitals will take place in mid 2010, with some staff and resources transferring from St Luke's. St Luke's will continue to provide radiation oncology services for the period up to the completion of the NPRO in 2014. During this period St Luke's will, together with the new facilities, form a Radiation Oncology Network for Dublin and the East. To facilitate the operation of the Network, St. Luke's will be incorporated into the HSE from July this year.

These developments will ensure increased radiation oncology capacity in the Dublin and Eastern region from the end of this year. Additional linear accelerators were also provided at St. Luke's in 2008 in order to provide sufficient capacity in the interim before completion of the NPRO in 2014.