Campaigners back hospital cancer care plan

RADIOTHERAPY campaigners have given a strong endorsement of a new public-private proposal to provide cancer care to patients on the grounds of Waterford Regional Hospital.

Cancer Care Alliance said the proposal by the medical board of the hospital to provide an independently funded wing at the hospital with a dedicated cancer centre “could meet the criteria” for an equitable cancer service for both public and private patients.

The proposal for the 85 to 100-bed facility was put forward by delegates from the hospital’s medical board at a recent meeting with Health Minister Mary Harney.

“This plan for the south-east would meet the needs of cancer patients by providing three modalities of care on an equitable basis to public and private patients on one regional site,” said Jane Bailey of Cancer Care Alliance.

According to Waterford Regional Hospital medical board chairman Dr Rob Landers, the proposal would increase the total bed capacity at the hospital by 20% and “bring on-site sophisticated medical techniques and expertise which, heretofore, did not exist within the public hospital”.

The proposal would see a private developer fund the construction of a new wing at the hospital, part of which could be bought back by the Health Service Executive for public use.

“We got an extremely positive reaction to the proposal from the Tánaiste ... we’d be hopeful it would be up and running within two years,” said Dr Landers.

A spokesperson for the Minister for Health said no decision in relation to

Waterford had yet been made, but added: “The department will be issuing a policy directive to the HSE shortly setting out guidelines for the development of private facilities at public hospitals.”