Private radiotherapy hospital could save State €2m
Dr Ken Patterson, one of those proposing to build the 40-bed private hospital, said it would treat local cancer patients, who currently have to travel to Cork or Dublin for radiotherapy services.
“It’s a private hospital and some people are saying it will be elitist. But 85% of the 500 people travelling for treatment are public patients, so we are building this for everybody,” he said.
The lack of radiotherapy services in Waterford is still a major political issue, particularly after the Department of Health’s expert report last October recommended that the centres of excellence should be in Dublin, Cork and Galway.
Dr Patterson, a consultant anaesthetist at Waterford Regional Hospital, said the private hospital would provide the satellite radiotherapy service envisaged by the expert report. The planned location for the €10 million hospital is on the south side of Waterford city, close to the forthcoming Waterford bypass.
The investors behind the project submitted a planning application last December to Waterford City Council. The council will have to rezone the land from agricultural use if the hospital is to proceed.
The hospital will have a CT simulator, which provides the radiation oncologist with a 3D image of the patient’s tumour and also a two unit linear accelerator, used to destroy cancer cells.
Dr Patterson believes the project could be up and running within two years after planning permission, providing 100 construction and 200 permanent jobs.
However, the Cancer Care Alliance said the private plan would not provide multidisciplinary care, which involves surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and care professionals.
