TDs in war of words over radiotherapy plans for Waterford

TWO Waterford TDs have clashed over plans to bring radiotherapy to the south-east, based at Waterford Regional Hospital.

Fianna Fáil’s Ollie Wilkinson has hit back at Labour’s Brian O’Shea over the effort to bring radiotherapy services to Waterford, saying his party has opposed the Whitfield Clinic being developed there and the construction of private hospitals on public grounds.

Mr Wilkinson was responding to comments by Mr O’Shea in the past week when he claimed the Government may feel it is “off the hook” over radiotherapy in Waterford.

Mr Wilkinson said: “The latest backward missive from Deputy O’Shea makes absolutely no reference to the Whitfield Clinic which is due to open later this year and will treat both public and private patients.

“The clinic will be a huge step forward for the treatment of public cancer patients in Waterford and the broader south-eastern region. How anyone could set out the case for radiotherapy in Waterford without mentioning the Whitfield Clinic is beyond me.”

The Dungarvan-based TD pointed out that at the Labour Party conference last week, its leader, Pat Rabbitte TD, said he would scrap the tax breaks to help developers to build private clinics on public hospital grounds.

“In other words, another Rainbow Coalition would set progress on radiotherapy back by lightyears. That is the dismal prospect politicians like Brian O’Shea offers cancer patients in Waterford.”

Mr Wilkinson said there is a strong case to be made to install a proper oncology ward in Waterford Regional Hospital and, in the coming weeks, he will meet the Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney to press her on the project.