Ireland of Equals Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Dismay that North West Cancer Centre not on North/South Health Ministers' agenda - Doherty

Published: 17 July, 2007

West Tyrone Sinn Fein MP Pat Doherty has expressed dismay that, despite
their obligation to undertake collaborative projects on an All-Ireland
basis, Health Ministers Michael Mc Gimpsey and Mary Harney have held no
discussions about the establishment of a satellite cancer centre in the
North West.

He said,

"Given that the disparity in access to cancer service provision is most
acutely felt by people living in counties in the northwest part of Ireland
and given that this disparity is because the configuration of cancer care
provision has been distorted as a result of partition, it would have been
expected that discussions about the establishment of a satellite cancer
centre in the north west would have been a major priority for Ministers Mc
Gimpsey and Harney as part of their obligation to undertake collaborative
projects on an All-Ireland basis to the benefit of people on both sides of
the border.

"However, Michael Mc Gimpsey has now confirmed to me that has he held no
discussions with Mary Harney on the issue and despite giving a general
commitment to continue assessing the potential for further collaboration and
co-operation with the Department of Health in the south, including the
provision of cancer services, he somewhat dilutes this commitment by
stating:

Specialist regional services for cancer in 'Northern Ireland', including
radiotherapy services, are provided by the Cancer Centre at Belfast City
Hospital, which opened in March last year. The Cancer centre was developed
to meet 'northern Ireland's' needs with respect to radiotherapy until 2015.

"When I wrote to Mary Harney on the same issue last year, I received an
acknowledgement of my letter and nothing of substance since. The provision
of accessible cancer services for people in the north west region of Ireland
should be a priority issue for both Ministers in terms of joint initiatives
on an All-Ireland basis.

"All-Ireland configuration would justify an oncology unit for the entire
North West, serving both West Ulster and North Connacht instead of very ill
patients from this region being forced to undergo the additional burden of
repeated and prolonged journeys to the only existing units in Belfast,
Dublin, Cork and Galway.

"It is intolerable that cancer patients are subject to these long journeys
and prolonged stays along away from home when there are two local hospitals
(at either Altnagelvin or Letterkenny) that could house an Oncology Unit to
meet the holistic needs of cancer patients in this part of Ireland.

"The provision of a Regional Cancer for the Northwest is a priority issue
for Sinn Fein and we will be continuing to pressurise both governments that
it also must become a priority for them if they genuinely want to address
the disparity in access to cancer service provision on this island. ENDS