With your permission, Sir, I wish to allow my colleagues, Deputies Allen and Deenihan, make a brief contribution.
Cork Hospital Cancer Treatment Machine.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
I wish to raise in a non-controversial and in a non-sensational way an issue of deep concern in Cork and in the south generally. Cancer is an illness that rightly gives rise to tremendous public sympathy and support. The Minister for Health should be fully aware that the general public want the best of treatment to be available to those who suffer from cancer. As of now, radiotherapy treatment is not available for many cancer patients in the south. About 1,500 patients from Cork city and county, Kerry, south Limerick, south Tipperary and west Waterford attend annually at the regional hospital for such treatment.
The reason I raised this issue is that the 13-year-old radiotherapy machine has broken down. The machine is at the end of its normal functioning life and arrangements have been put in place to replace it. I am aware that a huge fund raising effort over the last two years by a very admirable local charity group will result in a new cancer machine being operational in the hospital very soon. I have been told that while this machine will not replace the existing cobalt machine it will provide additional facilities for cancer treatment in Cork Regional Hospital.
I want to refer to another matter which is of some concern to me. The impression has been given that the cobalt machine broke down only a few days ago and that the problem was attended to immediately. The evidence available to me suggests that this impression is misleading. A cancer patient from my area told me that arrangements for his transfer to Dublin were made at the end of last month because of problems with the machine in question. Clearly, the difficulties did not arise during the past few days.
Transferring patients to Dublin is not the answer. Radio therapy treatment lasts for two or three weeks. While this treatment may only have five or ten minutes each day, it is not possible for people to commute 250 miles to Dublin daily. The difficulties will be particularly acute for those from west Cork and Kerry who already have to travel long distances for treatment in the Cork Regional Hospital. Furthermore for the mothers of young children the logistics of travelling to Dublin for treatment will be a nightmare.
I am shocked and horrified that the Minister for Health should preside over a service where essential treatment is not available for cancer patients in the south. I demand that he give us a full explanation and confirm, even at this stage, that suitable alternative arrangements will be put in place immediately.
The breakdown of the radiotherapy machine in Cork Regional Hospital is a source of much hardship for many Kerry patients who have to travel to Cork for treatment. I know of one patient who travelled to Cork last week only to be informed that he could not receive any treatment as the machine was out of order. This man is very worried and needs treatment urgently. There is no excuse for allowing this machine to be out of commission for such a considerable period of time in view of the serious condition of some of the patients involved. I ask the Minister to do something about this matter immediately.
It is horrific that cancer patients who suffer extreme anxiety and stress cannot avail of this essential equipment in Cork Regional Hospital. It is inappropriate that they should have to suffer the additional trauma of travelling to Dublin or Belfast for this treatment.
As Deputy O'Keeffe pointed out, this machine broke down some weeks ago. This machine is being repaired but it will break down again because it is on its last legs. What we have seen is just the tip of the iceberg. Some of the equipment in Cork Regional Hospital is outdated and needs to be replaced. As the Minister is aware, the Southern Health Board have submitted a capital programme to his Department seeking additional funding so that much of this outdated equipment can be replaced. I urge the Minister to make an early positive decision in regard to this matter.
First, I should like to thank Deputy O'Keeffe and his colleagues for raising this very important issue here tonight. All of us accept that it is an important issue, particularly for those who need to use such a facility.
There are different forms of cancer treatment and cancer patients are catered for at several hospitals throughout Munster. The Deputy is referring to the provision of radiotherapy services which are provided at the radio therapy unit at Cork Regional Hospital and St. Luke's and St. Anne's Hospitals in Dublin.
The Deputy will be aware that the Southern Health Board have primary responsibility for the provision and organisation of services at the regional hospital, including radio therapy services. The position is that problems were experienced with the cobalt machine at the radio therapy unit. As expertise with regard to this machine is not available in this country, the board sought advice from abroad. The cobalt machine was examined by an expert on 9 May and the board are now awaiting a comprehensive report on the matter which, I understand, will be available next week. The board will then consider the options open to them.
In the meantime, the board are finalising arrangements with St. Luke's and St. Anne's Hospitals in Dublin for the provision of radio therapy services for Cork Regional Hospital patients. As I have sid, St. Luke's and St. Anne's are the only other centres which provide this service. As it is not possible to use the cobalt machine at Cork Regional Hospital it is necessary for patients to travel to Dublin for treatment. I understand that every effort is being made by the Southern Health Board to minimise the effects for patients and to provide a comfortable and caring environment for them.
It is also important to note that considerable investment, both State and voluntary, has recently been made in the radio therapy unit at Cork Regional Hospital with the purchase of a linear accelerator. This is a much more sophisticated radio therapy facility which will substantially improve the treatment for patients and is due to come into operation early in July. I am confident that this development will further improve radio therapy services for patients in the Munster area.
Obviously I am also anxious that the report to which I have referred will be made available to the Southern Health Board without delay so that they can make their decision as to whether it is worth bringing the machine back into service or a new machine should be purchased.
I appreciate the Minister's response. I want to ask him one question. If the report recommends that the machine should be replaced, will the Minister ensure that the necessary funding will be made available immediately?
That will be for the Southern Health Board to decide. If I receive such a report it will be considered.