Cancer treatment stopped in 16 of 24 days last month by hospital's aging radiotherapy machines, Dáil told

The Dáil heard that 40% of radiotherapy machines would need to be replaced within the next five years. File photo: Gerard McCarthy

The Government should introduce a centralised scheme to replace aging radiotherapy equipment, the Dáil has heard.

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett, who recently got the all-clear following treatment for throat cancer, said some radiotherapy machines were as much as seven years beyond their replacement time.

“There’s a very particular issue for me and the people who provided me with care in St Lukes, in the area of radiation oncology machines,” Mr Boyd Barrett said, speaking during his first appearance in the Dáil since April.

“They’re called linear accelerators. They basically have given me my life back, and the staff and infrastructure.

Incredibly, 35% of those machines, which are supposed to be replaced every 10 years, are now 15 to 17 years old. 

Mr Boyd Barrett said 40% of these machines would need to be replaced within the next five years.

He added radiotherapy services are operating “significantly below capacity", saying the services have been left underfunded.

The Dun Laoghaire TD called for a national radiotherapy replacement programme to be established by the Government, to deal with the aging infrastructure.

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Such a scheme should be ringfenced and centralised within Government and should have a multi-annual funding model, Mr Boyd Barrett said.

He added this would stop hospitals having to “come each year with a begging bowl for money to provide this absolutely vital machinery to save lives”.

“Our healthcare staff do everything they can to minimise the impacts and care for patients. However, it is simply not possible to provide optimal care in these conditions,” Mr Boyd Barrett told the Dáil.

“16 of 24 working days last month were affected by unscheduled downtime, because machines are breaking down because they are too old, putting stress on patients and staff.

“This means that there’s a lot of discomfort, stress for patients, for staff who need this life-saving treatment.” 

In response, public expenditure minister Jack Chambers said there is a €9bn capital allocation to the Department of Health over the next five years, some of which would go towards replacement of radiotherapy equipment.

Mr Chambers said health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill was working on a sectoral plan with the HSE to outline where the money would go.

Richard Boyd Barrett's cancer treatment

Throughout Leaders’ Questions, Mr Boyd Barrett received well wishes from across the political spectrum after his treatment.

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy said everybody was “absolutely delighted to hear” his treatment went well.

Last Friday, Mr Boyd Barrett confirmed his treatment had been successful.

“I got a scan in the last week or so, which says the treatment has been successful and has eliminated the cancer,” Mr Boyd Barrett said.

“I will have to be monitored closely, I’ve got to have check-ups every three months with this cancer for the next five years.

“But they are saying it’s worked, like it’s as good a result for the treatment I got as you could get.”