asked the Minister for Health if he has been requested to give assistance towards the provision of linear accelerators in radiotherapy units in the State; the up-to-date position; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Provision of Linear Accelerators.
9.
I have proposals from the Southern Health Board for the development of radiotherapy services including the provision of a linear accelerator for the radiotherapy unit at Cork Regional Hospital. The total costs of these proposals excluding staff is over £1 million. The Southern Health Board have not indicated that this development is their top priority. I must consider all such proposals in the light of the financial resouces available for this purpose and in the light of the overall radiotherapy requirements in this country.
Would the Minister not acknowledge the need, as expressed by the Southern Health Board in their request, for the replacement of the cobalt source in the radio therapy unit and also the replacement for the couch he mentioned in the recent Adjournment Debate? Would he indicate now when he proposes to make that money available knowing that the equipment mentioned is so out of date and run down that it needs replacement?
I accept that the top priority at the moment in that particular health board area is the provision of a new cobalt source and improvement of the ancillary facilities for that equipment. That will cost about £200,000 this year. Therefore, I stress to the Deputy that we should impress on all our representations that number one priority is the replacement of the cobalt source and the provision of a treatment couch. Secondly, the health board, in so far as they have a second priority, are seeking a simulator and thirdly, and away down the road, is a linear accelerator.
I asked the Minister——
Question No. 10. I repeat that Deputy Tom McEllistrim is sitting there for the last hour waiting for this question.
—— if he would indicate to me when he proposes to provide the money. He has acknowledged in his reply that the cobalt source is required and that the couch is required. Will he approve of the £200,000 required to replace the obsolete equipment?
I am discussing the matter with the health board. I also suggest to those who currently have collected £300,000 for other radio therapy equipment to get together with the health board and consultant radio therapist and use that money as well to build up the services.
The Minister was pretty arrogant in the way he replied to the question. The primary objective of any hospital is to provide a good health service and a linear accelerator will only cost approximately £400,000.
If the Deputy has a question to ask will he please ask it?
Application was made for this in 1984 for the Cork Regional Hospital by the Southern Health Board.
Question No. 10. The Deputy obviously has not a question to ask. Will the Minister answer Question No. 10?