Patients’ fury at cancer care snub for north-west

CANCER patients in the north-west are concerned that they have been overlooked as the Government promised major improvements in health services by 2001 through the establishment of a national network of radiotherapy facilities.

Health Minister Mary Harney yesterday announced the establishment of four cancer treatment centres in Dublin, Cork and Galway.

Two smaller satellite centres will be based in Waterford and Limerick to minimise the need for patients to travel long distances for check-ups and treatments.

The Department of Health is arranging for cancer patients in the north-west to be treated at Belfast’s City Hospital and the establishment of a satellite facility in Derry will also be examined.

Last night, patient groups in the north-west criticised the plans.

The Donegal Action for Cancer Care group, which is due to meet Ms Harney tomorrow, said Belfast was not a realistic option as many patients would have to travel up to 150 miles for treatment.

A €400 million investment scheme will see the number of radiation machines increase from 13 to 36 in the coming years.

The concentration of multi-disciplinary cancer treatment services in the new centres will, however, result in the closure of the specialist facility at St Luke’s Hospital in Rathgar.

Ms Harney said its services would be transferred to St James’s Hospital.

She said the facilities would improve access to treatment for the one in three people who will suffer from cancer and the one in six who will require radiation treatment.

“The Government is determined to continue to build up our cancer services so we can have world-class services available and accessible to patients in each region of the country,” said Ms Harney.

She acknowledged that existing cancer care facilities only met around half of the needs of patients, adding that the plan included provisions for the recruitment of 80 specialists.

The Government will give €100m to the capital programme of building and running the facilities, with the remainder coming from the private sector.

Services at the satellite facilities in Waterford and Limerick will be coordinated by the centres in Cork and Galway respectively.