New cancer clinic to rank among the best available globally, says Cullen

TWO hundred and fifty jobs are to be created in Waterford from June of next year in a new private hospital which will offer cutting-edge public and private healthcare for the region.

Transport Minister Martin Cullen yesterday laid the foundation stone at the €40 million Whitfield Clinic, a 40-bed hospital currently under construction on the main Waterford-Cork road. An Irish-US partnership will provide radiotherapy to cancer patients from across the south-east within 18 months at the facility.

Irish-based healthcare infrastructure company Euro Care International has combined with UPMC Cancer Centers, one of the largest networks of cancer physicians and health care specialists in the United States, to develop and operate the radiotherapy facility at Whitfield Clinic. It will feature two linear accelerators to treat public and private patients.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Cullen said that public as well as private patients will be treated there. He said it will enhance healthcare to public and private patients in the region and added that there will be further investment at Waterford Regional Hospital, allaying public fears that the site would be seen as the only answer to the radiotherapy needs of cancer sufferers in the region.

“The private and public sectors working together in all parts of the country can have big solutions and achievements for those in need of healthcare.

“Whitfield Clinic is an exciting departure for the city of Waterford and for the entire south-east region. The reality of radiotherapy services being rolled-out within 18 months is to be hailed as a positive development. I am delighted that Whitfield has confirmed to me that they will treat all patients from day one, both public and private.

“The provision of high quality radiotherapy services in the region is a very important issue for all the people of the south-east. The involvement of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center ensures that the facility here in Waterford will rank among the best available globally.”

Euro Care International was established in 2004 by Carlow-based Dr Jim Madden. “We are very excited about the progress that has been made since work began at the site and are on target to treat the first patients at Whitfield Clinic in the second half of 2006.

“Convenient access to treatments including radiotherapy has long been a legitimate demand from the people of Waterford and the surrounding counties. In this context, we look forward to the roll-out of radiotherapy and a wide range of other services that we will be providing in the south-east region within 18 months.

“It is our intention that the widest possible range of cancer patients will receive all of the oncology treatments to be provided at Whitfield Clinic, whether their fees are covered by medical insurance or under the National Treatment Purchase Fund. For this reason, we are particularly pleased with our site which is within three miles of Waterford Regional Hospital (WRH) where regional oncology facilities are concentrated.”