Vol. 467 No. 1
126 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the reciprocal arrangements, if any, that currently exist to enable persons on waiting lists for physiotherapy or chemotherapy to attend Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry or any other hospital. [12492/96]
Limerick East): The North-Western Health Board has advised me that at present no reciprocal arrangements exist between Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry or any other hospital and its board in respect of the provision of physiotherapy or chemotherapy treatment.
Physiotherapy treatment for Donegal patients is provided at Letterkenny General Hospital and the community hospitals in the county. All urgent cases receive immediate treatment and because of demands there are times when there may be a waiting period of one to three months for non-urgent treatment.
A visiting consultant oncologist holds an out-patient clinic twice per month at Letterkenny General Hospital. Normally patients from the Letterkenny General Hospital catchment area will commence their chemotherapy treatment at one of the Dublin centres. The patient will then attend the oncology nurse service at the day services unit, Letterkenny General Hospital and will be reviewed by the visiting consultant oncologist at his out-patient clinic. There is currently no waiting list for chemotherapy treatment provided by the oncology nurse at Letterkenny General Hospital.
