I have had inquiries made of the Eastern Regional Health Authority concerning this matter. I have been informed that at present Mater Hospital public patients are transferred to St. Luke's Hospital for radiotherapy. Public patients who require urgent radiotherapy are referred to the Mater Private Hospital for diagnosis and treatment. The cost of this service is met by the Mater Public Hospital.
In the interest of delivering an integrated service to public patients, I understand that a proposal is presently being considered by the Mater Hospital, whereby the hospital would purchase radiotherapy services from the Mater Private Hospital, thus eliminating the need to transfer public patients to St. Luke's Hospital. This proposal, when formulated, will be submitted to and considered by the Eastern Regional Health Authority within the context of the hospital's overall priorities for 2001 and the many competing demands which presently exist within the acute hospital sector in the eastern region.