Campaigners win battle for city radiotherapy unit

CANCER campaigners who have lobbied for a decade for radiotherapy services for Waterford and the south-east are today celebrating a landmark victory.

Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Mary Harney, has confirmed that radiotherapy services are finally going to be provided at Waterford Regional Hospital. The announcement is part of a new national network of oncology services unveiled by the Government.

The announcement will see a new, state-of-the-art satellite centre with two linear accelerators the machines which provide radiotherapy developed on the grounds of Waterford Regional Hospital under a public, private partnership.

Chairman of the south-east radiotherapy campaign, Dick Roche, said its very much a victory for people power. He had been confident of a breakthrough, following a meeting with the Tánaiste when she last visited Waterford.

"We have been highlighting this issue through our campaign for the past number of years. It's a victory for everyone who was involved in that drive. You name it, we've done it. We've collected signatures, we've lobbied and we've organised ourselves on buses and gone to protests.

"It's a victory for the people of the south-east and a major victory for people power," he added.

The groundwork for such a development is already well under way with a group of consultants at WRH, under the leadership of Dr Rob Landers, already bidding to start work. He and his fellow consultants have been working on the plan for up to two years.

Dr Landers said it was a major breakthrough.

"This is fantastic news. It's a fantastic development for the people of Waterford and the south-east and a major breakthrough for anyone who will develop cancer in this region in the years to come," he said. "Waterford Regional Hospital has always been the preferred location for such a service and we are delighted that both public and private patients will have equal access to this service."

The Tánaiste said she was always very conscious of the need for radiotherapy in Waterford. She said that expecting cancer patients to travel to Dublin or Cork for radiotherapy, as has been the norm in the region, was adding to their trauma.

"I am delighted that in my capacity as Minister for Health that I can deliver this for Waterford. Its something which is very important and well-deserved. Patients who will be treated in Waterford will have access to the same expertise as anyone treated in Dublin, Cork or Galway," she promised.