HSE backs calls for cancer service
Deputy chief executive of the HSE Pat McLoughlin said despite holding talks with private healthcare providers he remained convinced that it was best to provide radiotherapy to public patients on the grounds of a public hospital.
“When I was chief executive of the South Eastern Health Board we looked at the whole issue and it was our view that radiotherapy should be part of an overall cancer infrastructure that would include haematology, oncology and other services and that it would be best placed on WRH campus,” Mr McLoughlin said yesterday.
This is the preferred option of local campaigners, who this weekend held a petition signing across the South East calling for fully-funded public radiotherapy facilities at WRH.
The petition was co-ordinated by groups of volunteers in Clonmel, Carrick on Suir, New Ross, Waterford, Wexford and Dungarvan on Saturday.
Mr McLoughlin, who is also the director of the National Hospital Office, confirmed talks had been held with the Whitfield Clinic regarding the possibilities of providing radiotherapy for public patients from this new 40-bed facility which is due to open on the outskirts of the city in 2006.
“It’s true that we’ve had contact with them but until such time as the Government would indicate its support for a service in Waterford the HSE wouldn’t be in a position to commission any service from another provider,” Mr McLoughlin said.
Any potential contract with the Whitfield Clinic would depend on a number of key issues, he said.
“There are a number of key things we’d want: early access to the service; public and private patients to be treated in the same way and an understanding in relation to quality.
“It would still be my view and the view of the consultants in WRH that the service would be best at the site of a public hospital,” Mr McLoughlin added.
