Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 May 1988

Vol. 380 No. 2

Written Answers. - Cork Regional Hospital Equipment.

102.

Mr. Allen

asked the Minister for Health when he will make funds available to the Southern Health Board in order that they can restore a two treatment machine capacity service that was always intended to operate in the Cork Regional Hospital, but has lapsed because of lack of replacement of unserviceable equipment, having regard to the fact that these funds are necessary to ensure that the present machine does not become unserviceable as this would mean that a situation could develop where there would be no cancer or radio therapy other than skin cancer treatment in the greater Cork area.

103.

Mr. Allen

asked the Minister for Health when he will make funds available to the Southern Health Board for the installation and staffing of a linear accelerator at Cork Regional Hospital, as Cork is the only centre in Ireland without at least one of these machines.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 103 together.

The Southern Health Board considers the replacement of a two treatment machine capacity at the radiotherapy department of Cork Regional Hospital a very high priority. The board and my Department will do everything possible to provide a linear accelerator at the hospital in the near future. The Deputy will, however, appreciate that the board must consider the requirements, including staffing, of the radiotherapy department in the context of its overall requirements and the funds available from its allocation.