Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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994. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to an increase in the number of cancer patients travelling to Northern Ireland for treatment; and if he will provide this Deputy with any statistics he has on the issue. [41510/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I have not been made aware of any general increase in the number of patients travelling to Northern Ireland for cancer treatment.

We have strong collaboration North/South in relation to oncology matters. In particular, we have worked very closely together in relation to the provision of radiotherapy services for Irish patients in the North West Cancer Centre, Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Derry.

In 2020, a total of 200 Irish patients received radiation oncology treatment in Altnagelvin. This year, 144 Irish patients received treatment there to the end of July, compared to 117 for the same period in 2020. Over 700 Irish patients have benefitted from treatment in the North West Cancer Centre since it opened in November 2016.