Vol. 502 No. 4
127 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has to provide a radiation treatment unit at Waterford Regional Hospital in view of the unacceptable delay cancer patients from the region are encountering in relation to radiation treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8526/99]
Radiotherapy is a highly specialised and capital intensive service. Because of its complexity and the considerable cost involved, there are currently just two public radiotherapy facilities in Ireland. These are in St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, and Cork University Hospital. However, I am pleased to say that a third public radiotherapy facility will be provided as part of the major development of University College Hospital Galway. I also approved, recently, the provision of a second linear accelerator for the radiotherapy unit at Cork University Hospital. There are no plans to develop a unit at Waterford Regional Hospital.
