OCTOBER 2007

North West still needs a radiation unit for cancer

Sinn Fein is to press the health ministers North and South for more action on radiation services for cancer sufferers in Donegal. Party members are to deliver letters to the Republic's Minister Mary Harney and her counterpart at Stormont, Michael McGimpsey, calling once again for a satellite radiation unit in the North West.

Buncrana Councillor Padraig MacLochalinn said it wasn't enough to point Donegal cancer sufferers to Belfast. "Belfast is not the solution to the problem for the people of the North West requiring radiation services," he said. "Indeed, figures from the HSE suggest that as few as 17 Donegal patients have availed of the Belfast solution over the last 22 months. He said the letter which his party will hand to the Ministers will insist that the solution to this problem is to provide the North West with a satellite radiation unit, in the public sector, linked to a 'Mother' Regional Cancer Centre. This should be part of an all island radiation network. Councillor McLochlainn said Sinn Fein will ask both Ministers to treat this as a matter of urgency.

The Irish government launched a detailed National Cancer Control Programme last week and there was also news that a private radiotherapy centre is to go ahead in Letterkenny. The government document states that eight cancer care centres are to be set up across the country, with Galway being the principal care centre for North West. Donegal is singled out for special treatment in the strategy: "There are particular and unique geographical circumstances applying to Donegal. This is reflected in north-south co-operation in the provision of radiotherapy from Belfast. On a sole exception basis, the Managed Cancer Control Network in the West will therefore be permitted to enter into outreach service delivery in Letterkenny as an additional activity.

However, Donegal Sinn Fein Senator Pearse Doherty lambasted the government in the Seanad last Wednesday when a motion regarding cancer services was being discussed and Minister for Heath Mary Harney was present. He told the chamber that people are dying in the North West "because cancers are going undetected" and noted that two years have passed without any progress on the proposed satellite radiotherapy centre for the North West. He also questioned the government's commitment to making advances in this area. Since the establishment of the Northern Assembly, I do not believe that the Minister has met the Northern Health Minister, Mr Michael McGimpsey, to discuss the issue, yet time and again, deputies and Ministers assure us it is in the pipeline.

Back