Vol. 462 No. 5
95 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that one of the radiation machines in St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin has broken down; if so, the steps, if any, he proposes to take to ensure that the full level of treatment is restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4851/96]
Limerick East): The operational efficiency of radiotherapy equipment can reasonably be measured in terms of machine downtime as a proportion of total operational time. Radiotherapy equipment, of necessity, requires to be temporarily taken out of service for a variety of reasons, including calibration and validation work, preventive maintenance and, on occasion, for repair work.
I have been informed by the hospital that there have been particular technical difficulties with some of the hospital's treatment equipment in addition to the requirement for ongoing maintenance. Contingency arrangements are automatically put in place by the hospital when equipment is temporarily out of use, so as to ensure that all emergency cases are accommodated and to ensure continuity of treatment. Alternative treatment machines are used as required and, where necessary, a back up service is available from another health agency for patients requiring treatment planning prior to radiotherapy. I am assured by the hospital that these procedures are operating successfully.
As part of the major redevelopment of accommodation and facilities at St. Luke's Hospital which is currently under way at a cost in excess of £15 million I have already provided additional funding of approximately £3 million to upgrade the hospital's treatment equipment. The first of two new linear accelerators will be operational in May 1996 and the second machine, which is being installed at present, is expected to be in clinical use by the summer. In addition, the hospital has had a new simulator installed and discussions are ongoing regarding the approval of funds for the purchase of a third new linear accelerator.
