August 2005

Radiotherapy treatment facility planned for Sligo.

Peter Morrison, the Medical Director of Harlequin Healthcare (Sligo) Ltd. said his company plans to provide Radiotherapy treatment facilities for patients of the North West, due to the concern that has been expressed recently about the lack of local treatment.

"Harlequin Healthcare (Sligo) Ltd currently operates St. Joseph's Hospital, Garden Hill, Sligo and has planned a €26 million expansion to include Radiotherapy treatment. We welcome the new developments in Cancer care that the implementation of the Cancer Forum's plan for Oncology and Radiotherapy treatment have meant, most recently with the commissioning of the Galway Radiotherapy centre. We aim to collaborate with the new improving and rapidly evolving infrastructure." He went on to say that the Tanáiste and Minister for Heath had announced an innovative plan for Public Private Partnerships to develop facilities on public hospital sites. "We welcome the new opportunities for Patients, Carers and the HSE that this brings. We hope to be chosen to collaborate with the HSE in these projects for which a statement of need has been made in regard to Letterkenny General Hospital and Sligo General Hospital."

The provision of Radiotherapy on a satellite basis was, he said, "Our strategy in both the North West and South East, where we are also involved. A local Radiotherapy treatment facility would greatly enhance the treatment of patients who already have many difficulties to bear. We have been developing linkages which the HSE and other independent Radiotherapy providers and we intend, if successful, to transfer our development to the public site. Our goal is to add another building block to the strategy, which will quickly lead to an improved radiotherapy service for all patients both public and private".

Mr Morrison concluded that there was a change happening, in which his Company could play a role, "to maximise the benefits for the people of the North West."

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