No extra cancer beds for centre of excellence

NO extra cancer treatment beds have been allocated to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital even though it has been designated one of the eight centres of excellence to treat cancer patients.

At present, when the 13-bed inpatient cancer ward is full, patients are dispersed to other parts of the hospital.

While capacity for the care of cancer patients is not an issue at present, hospital sources quoted in the Irish Medical News said that situation could change early next year when patients currently treated at Ennis and Nenagh hospitals will be cared for at the specialist Limerick unit.