Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1750. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date with the development of a comprehensive cancer care facility at University Hospital Galway which will enable all cancer services to be located within one block as a hospital within a hospital and which has been escalated in the National Development Plan 2021-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42923/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe model of care for hospital cancer treatment is centred on eight Designated Cancer Centres serving a defined population and geographic area. University Hospital Galway (UHG) is one the eight centres. The centralisation of specialist services into Designated Cancer Centres aims to optimise patient outcomes, through case volume, multidisciplinary working and infrastructural supports.
The National Cancer Strategy recommends that investment in the Designated Cancer Centres will have the goal of ultimately establishing at least one Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre. The Department of Health and the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) have commenced consideration of the steps required towards the implementation of this recommendation. Decisions on the establishment of at least one Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre during the Strategy period will be made in the light of available resources and developments in the best performing centres worldwide.
Under the National Programme for Radiation Oncology (NPRO), a new radiation oncology facility is under construction at UHG. The facility will include seven radiotherapy treatment vaults, a brachytherapy suite, two CT rooms, MRI, on-treatment support, and ancillary physics, treatment planning and administration facilities. Construction will be completed in 2024.
The NCCP also continues to engage with UHG on actions to improve medical oncology and haemato-oncology ambulatory day unit capacity.
