HSE backs calls for cancer service

A SENIOR official from the Health Service Executive has endorsed the call for radiotherapy facilities to be made available to public patients at Waterford Regional Hospital.

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.