Hopes high for radiotherapy unit go-ahead

HOPES were growing in the Mid-Western region last night that the battle to have a €6.1 million radiotherapy unit situated in Limerick will succeed. Two junior ministers, Willie O’Dea and Tim O’Malley, yesterday expressed confidence that Minister for Health Micheál Martin will give the go-ahead for the radiotherapy facility.

Ministers O’Dea and O’Malley were commenting in the wake of a meeting between the minister and representatives of the Western Hospitals Trust Fund in Dublin on Tuesday night.

The trust have already raised €6.1 million to build a radiotherapy centre in the grounds of the Limerick Regional Hospital which is backed by the Mid-Western Health Board. Hopes are rising that if the Government approve the facility it will be up and running within two years to cater for the 1,500 cancer patients diagnosed in the Mid-West Region every year.Mr Martin has ordered a reexamination of the proposal for the unit which will cater for both private and public patients.