Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Hospital Services.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 October 2007

Wednesday, 17 October 2007

Ceisteanna (41)

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

106 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether, in view of the opinion of the chief executive officer of the Health Service Executive as well as that of her Department’s hospital planning office and the National Development Finance Agency that the radiotherapy network will not be delivered through PPP by the target date of 2011, it will be delivered by this time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24075/07]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

It is my objective and that of the Health Service Executive (HSE) to see the earliest delivery of the Government's National Plan for Radiation Oncology. The HSE will shortly appoint a National Director of Radiation Oncology to report to the National Cancer Control Director.

My Department and the HSE have been working closely on the examination of procurement options in order to expedite the delivery of the National Plan for Radiation Oncology. It has been agreed that the phase 1 facilities at St. James's and Beaumont will be increased from four linear accelerators to eight (four at each site). The HSE has confirmed that it will have in place radiation oncology capacity to meet the needs of the population by 2010. After 2010 the HSE will continue to increase capacity to ensure that these needs continue to be met. I am fully confident that this will be achieved through a combination of direct Exchequer provision, PPP and where appropriate, the use of the private sector.

The HSE is currently finalising details in relation to the phasing and timelines of the Plan. Developments to date include the procurement of additional capacity (2 linear accelerators) for St. Luke's Hospital Rathgar. These linear accelerators will be commissioned in February and March 2008 and two replacement linear accelerators will be commissioned in August and September 2008. The contract for the design consultants for the interim facilities in Beaumont and St. James's has commenced. The evaluation process for procurement of the supply contract is also underway and a technical subgroup is preparing the equipping specification for the phase 1 developments.

Barr
Roinn