The Government and I are anxious to build on the expertise and ethos of St. Luke's. It is held in great affection by the Irish people. Many thousands of Irish patients and their families from every part of the country have experienced high quality cancer care at St. Luke's.
The decision to transfer St. Luke's Hospital to St. James's Hospital, Dublin was taken by the Government in the best interests of cancer patients. The decision was based on expert medical, scientific and management advice. It is designed to ensure that radiation oncology is integrated with all other aspects of cancer care, including surgery and medical oncology. It is in line with best international practice. This is the model that exists at Cork University Hospital and University College Hospital Galway and which is being developed at Beaumont and St. James's Hospitals, Dublin. The Board of St. Luke's Hospital and its Executive Management Team are fully committed to supporting this decision. A transfer on similar lines took place earlier this year in Northern Ireland when radiation oncology services transferred from a stand alone facility to Belfast City Hospital, which is a major academic teaching hospital.
The expertise and professional commitment of the staff at St. Luke's Hospital will continue to be an essential element in the provision of cancer care. Medical and scientific experts from the hospital are involved in developing the output specifications for the delivery of new radiation oncology services nationally. I have also appointed the Chairman of St. Luke's to chair a National Radiation Oncology Oversight Group to advise me on progress on the implementation of the plan.
In recognition of the role for St. Luke's in the new facility at St. James', I have made a commitment to pursue discussions with the Boards of both Hospitals about its governance and a re-configuration of the Boards, with the twin goals of ensuring continuity of expertise and ethos in the care of cancer patients and the effective integration of multi-disciplinary patient care at the one site. I remain confident the transition will be managed with great sensitivity and skill by the two hospital Boards to achieve those objectives.