Peter Barry
Question:63 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the severe hardship being caused to patients by the breakdown of the cobalt machine at the Cork Regional Hospital, he will supply funds to have the machine replaced.
Written Answers. - Hospital Machine Replacement.
Peter Barry
Question:76 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the serious inconveniences caused to cancer patients at the Cork Regional Hospital because the cobalt machine was not working which resulted in patients having to go to Dublin for treatment; and if he will provide funds to replace this machine.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 76 together. The Deputy will be pleased to learn that when the Southern Health Board informed my Department that the cobalt unit had broken down and was not repairable I immediately approved a grant of £455,000 for a replacement unit. It is expected that this new unit will be installed in the coming weeks.
In the absence of radiotherapy treatment facilities in the Cork Regional Hospital arrangements were made with St. Luke's and St. Anne's Hospital in Dublin for the treatment of the Cork Regional Hospital patients. Every effort is being made to minimise the effects for patients and to provide a comfortable and caring environment for them. These arrangements will continue until the full service is restored in the Cork Regional Hospital.
I would also like to let the House know that considerable investment, both State and voluntary, has been made in recent years in the radiotherapy unit at Cork Regional Hospital with the purchase of a linear accelerator at a total cost of £860,000. This machine has now been commissioned and is coming into operation on a phased basis. A full radiotherapy service is expected to be restored at the Cork Regional Hospital by early December.