asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate allegations made that there is a long delay in radiotherapy treatment for cancer patients in the Southern Health Board region; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
5.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Radiotherapy Treatment.
4.
asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that there is now a waiting list for patients requiring radium treatment in the regional hospital in Cork; if he will make arrangements with the Southern Health Board to eliminate the waiting list immediately having regard to the anxiety of the persons on the waiting list; if he will state the waiting period for this treatment in 1983 and in January 1985; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take questions Nos. 4 and 5 together. There is currently a waiting list of two months for radiotherapy treatment in the Southern Health Board area. The waiting period in 1983 was three to six weeks. The extent of the waiting period is a matter for the consultant in charge who decides on the urgency of the treatment required by the patient. The health board are at present endeavouring to re-deploy their resources in order to appoint an additional radiographer to the radiotherapy department of the Cork Regional Hospital which will result in a reduction in the waiting list.
I understand that proposals are before the Minister at present from the Southern Health Board for the improvement of the situation in relation to a mould room, a simultator and an accelerator. I understand that these proposals were submitted some time last year. Can the Minister inform the House if he will be able to make a financial allocation to the commencement of this project in the near future?
I expect to get the report of the working party on the radiography services in the near future. The group are considering the various options for the organisation of the radiotherapy services in the area and the Southern Health Board are represented in this group. In particular the report will deal with the requirements of the radiotherapy unit in Cork both in manpower and equipment. Meanwhile the board have recruited a radiographer in a temporary capacity to fill the existing vacancy. The filling of the additional post is being pursued by the board at present.
Is the Minister not aware that since June 1983 and again from October 1984 the regional hospital have been awaiting his approval, sanction, commitment, for £40,000 to provide accommodation for a simultator to be of benefit to cancer sufferers? Is he not aware that a committee acting voluntarily, of which Members of this House including myself are patrons, have collected £220,000 for this machine? Will he tell us today when it is proposed to give sanction to that £40,000 to provide accommodation for this simultator the effect of which would be to eliminate risk and improve results for suffers of that disease in the southwest area?
Again I must say to Deputies in this House that there is no problem whatsoever in my Department about providing money for buildings or for equipment. We can buy a linear accelerator tomorrow morning for £232,000 or a simultator for about £200,000 but additional beds must be provided in addition to the equipment and the buildings, which must be staffed. For example, for a linear accelerator an additional three posts would have to created. For the simultator one would have to have one radiographer and some additional buildings, and approximately 15 extra beds are required by the board. I am aware that the number of beds in the unit in Cork is probably too low for the needs of the Munster area, and that is why we set up a working group for these services. I expect to get that group's report quite soon. I am aware of the money collected locally and I have undertaken to meet the Cork Deputies on Wednesday night of next week at 9 o'clock to discuss the situation in Cork.
Is the Minister aware that his reply is completely unsatisfactory in so far——
A question, Deputy.
——as he has given no undertaking that anything positive will be done in the short term? Is he aware of the anxiety of the families of patients requiring radium treatment and that Kerry patients are being rerouted through the clinic of the new general hospital in Tralee to the Cork Regional Hospital for treatment? Is he aware of the seriousness and urgency of this?
The treatment of patients for radiography is basically a matter for the clinical judgment of the consultant in charge. Each consultant decides the urgency of the treatment required. I am not aware of any patient who requires urgent treatment being denied treatment, and if the Deputy has any case in mind, be it in Tralee or Cork, I will take up the matter. Meanwhile we are endeavouring to improve the general facilities for the catchment area which, after all, embraces about 1 million people depending on radiography.
The Minister told us that the waiting time in 1983 was three weeks and that it is now two months. Could he tell us the reason for that and if the cutbacks are responsible? Also, would he not accept that radiotherapy is a matter of urgency for many patients and that there is a risk to health if people have to wait that long. Obviously if the facility is not there the consultants cannot give radiotherapy to those who need it.
One of the prime difficulties has been that one post has remained vacant for some time as difficulties were experienced in attracting a suitable candidate for appointment. The health board is endeavouring to provide an additional radiographer in the department through the redeployment of resources. It is not a matter of cutbacks but of effectively staffing the unit. The original unit was a 20 bed radiotherapy unit and was probably too small.
I will leave some of my remarks for the meeting to be held with the Minister next week because of the sensitive nature of the matter. Would the Minister consider giving funds for equipment which would not require extra staffing? The Minister knows why I am putting the question. The equipment would really be updating present equipment.
I would be prepared to discuss that next week on an informal basis with Deputies when the professional staff of my Department would be present. Equally I would be prepared to discuss the matter with the Southern Health Board. I am reluctant to make any announcement about the additional staffing requirement as that would preempt the recommendations of the working party.
Arising from the Minister's reply——
I have allowed everyone in the House to ask a supplementary question. I am being reasonable.
Is the Chair suggesting that I am unreasonable? On behalf of the people of Cork who want this——
I allowed the Deputy to make a short speech on the question.
In my slight preamable——
I do not want any preamble.
I welcome the Minister's statement that there is no problem about the provision of buildings but rather that it is a question of staff. Will he now, and not next week, give approval or sanction for the building required for this equipment? It would only cost £40,000. Will he answer that question?
I have already dealt with that.
Inadequately.