Cancer treatment - Extension of services a welcome move

THE Government’s plan to streamline national cancer services deserves to be welcomed.

For years the inadequacy of cancer facilities has been a source of bitter controversy, particularly in areas where people had to undertake arduous journeys for treatment.

Essentially, the blueprint unveiled by Tánaiste Mary Harney will result in 23 additional radiation machines countrywide, bringing the total to 36.

Costing €400 million, it will be funded through public-private partnerships and will be up and running by 2011.

As already flagged, there will be four main centres at St James and Beaumont hospitals in Dublin and the university hospitals in Cork and Galway.

The provision of smaller, integrated facilities at Waterford and Limerick should placate protesters there while patients from the north-west will go to Belfast.

With the health service in crisis, the announcement of a national network of radiation oncology services is a positive development.