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11/11/2010
SF Slams 'Delayed' Derry Cancer Centre
There has been a call for an explanation over a proposed Londonderry-based cancer care facility that is now said to have been again postponed - this time by a further year.
The Sinn Fein Equality Spokesperson, Martina Anderson has called on the NI Health Minister, Ulster Unionist, Michael McGimpsey to clarify the reason for what she claimed is a further delay in provision of Cancer Care Services at Altnagelvin Hospital.
"It is my understanding that the long awaited Cancer Centre for Altnagelvin Hospital has once more been postponed until 2016 - a year later than promised," the Foyle MLA, (pictured) said.
"I am calling on Michael McGimpsey to explain the rationale behind this delay in a service that is to be funded in partnership with the Southern Health Authorities.
"This Centre was intended to relieve the pressure on Cancer sufferers who presently have to travel to Belfast or Dublin for treatment.
"I find it intolerable that provision of such a crucial service should to be treated in a cavalier fashion," she continued.
"Cancer sufferers in the North West have campaigned long and hard to have this Centre located at Altnagelvin and they deserve the courtesy of an explanation for this further delay.
"Minister McGimpsey is not slow to complain when he claims others have not followed through on commitments," she said.
Meanwhile, Martina Anderson has also hit out after the Department for Social Development confirmed that over £1m has been spent on a 'landmark development' site planned for Foyle Street which will now not go ahead
"The Department announced - amid much fanfare - in 2006 that the former City Hotel site in Foyle Street would be transferred into a 'landmark development that will set new standards' for the city," Ms. Anderson commented.
"Since then we have seen absolutely no progress and I raised the matter with the then Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie in the summer of 2008 when I was assured that work would begin by the end of the year.
"I again raised the issue with the new Social Development Minister Alex Attwood," she continued.
"It has now been revealed that over £1m has been spent on this site over the past 10 years and now we are being told that the iconic development promised by Margaret Ritchie will not be going ahead.
"Instead, the site will be landscaped to provide a small urban park together with 50 car parking spaces.
"This has been a scandalous waste of public money over the last ten years with nothing to show for it."
(BMcC/KMcA)
The Sinn Fein Equality Spokesperson, Martina Anderson has called on the NI Health Minister, Ulster Unionist, Michael McGimpsey to clarify the reason for what she claimed is a further delay in provision of Cancer Care Services at Altnagelvin Hospital.
"It is my understanding that the long awaited Cancer Centre for Altnagelvin Hospital has once more been postponed until 2016 - a year later than promised," the Foyle MLA, (pictured) said.
"I am calling on Michael McGimpsey to explain the rationale behind this delay in a service that is to be funded in partnership with the Southern Health Authorities.
"This Centre was intended to relieve the pressure on Cancer sufferers who presently have to travel to Belfast or Dublin for treatment.
"I find it intolerable that provision of such a crucial service should to be treated in a cavalier fashion," she continued.
"Cancer sufferers in the North West have campaigned long and hard to have this Centre located at Altnagelvin and they deserve the courtesy of an explanation for this further delay.
"Minister McGimpsey is not slow to complain when he claims others have not followed through on commitments," she said.
Meanwhile, Martina Anderson has also hit out after the Department for Social Development confirmed that over £1m has been spent on a 'landmark development' site planned for Foyle Street which will now not go ahead
"The Department announced - amid much fanfare - in 2006 that the former City Hotel site in Foyle Street would be transferred into a 'landmark development that will set new standards' for the city," Ms. Anderson commented.
"Since then we have seen absolutely no progress and I raised the matter with the then Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie in the summer of 2008 when I was assured that work would begin by the end of the year.
"I again raised the issue with the new Social Development Minister Alex Attwood," she continued.
"It has now been revealed that over £1m has been spent on this site over the past 10 years and now we are being told that the iconic development promised by Margaret Ritchie will not be going ahead.
"Instead, the site will be landscaped to provide a small urban park together with 50 car parking spaces.
"This has been a scandalous waste of public money over the last ten years with nothing to show for it."
(BMcC/KMcA)
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