Opposition hits out at cancer services delay

OPPOSITION parties have rounded on the Government following revelations that plans to roll out a network of radiotherapy services are almost four years behind schedule.

Last January leaked documents from the Health Service Executive (HSE) revealed it would take three years longer than envisaged to deliver the network, if it was done via public private partnership (PPP) as per Department of Health policy. This prompted Health Minister Mary Harney to ask the HSE to examine ways of speeding up delivery of the network. However, a review of the process involved has found the project may not be completed until 2015, four years after the start-up date of 2011 which Ms Harney had envisaged.

Yesterday, HSE chief executive Prof Brendan Drumm rejected the suggestion that the delays in the project were down to planners getting it wrong.