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25/01/2011
Clarity Sought Over Derry Radiotherapy Unit
About 100 people attended a public meeting in Londonderry on Monday night to discuss a planned radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin Hospital - which saw the Stormont Health Minister Michael McGimpsey criticised after reports that he has funds to build the centre - but not to staff it.
The satellite radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin Hospital had been due to open in 2015, but earlier this month, Michael McGimpsey said an £800m shortfall in the NI health budget meant the unit would be built, but there was no cash to run it.
He claimed that the cuts mean 4,000 jobs in the health service could be lost over four years.
The SDLP's local Health Spokesperson Mark H Durkan said the attendance showed the huge amount of public feeling there is about the issue and the concern cancer sufferers and their families have about their future health provision.
The Northland councillor said the argument for the radiotherapy unit must be made on its regional merits and not made on parochial concerns.
"The proposed radiotherapy unit is a regional unit to serve all the people of the north and the wider north-west of this island.
"We must not allow this to fall into a parochial argument. The merits of the unit relied on it alleviating the Cancer Centre at Belfast City Hospital, which is already over demand, and providing a first rate service for cancer patients heading into the next decade and beyond.
"That was the reason why the Executive initially fell behind the unit and that is where we should refocus our efforts. This should be needs based, not geography based," he said, on Tuesday.
"The demand for the highest standard of radiotherapy treatment does not fall along geographical lines or constituency borders.
"All elected representatives in Derry need to refocus their efforts to convince the minister and the Executive that not only is this unit needed in Derry, it's needed by everybody in the north and the wider northwest of the island," said the nationalist politician.
"I call on the Minister to clarify the position he made to the Stormont Health Committee two weeks ago regarding the building and running costs of the unit.
"This uncertainty is doing nothing to help those suffering from cancer, those facing radiotherapy treatment and those entering the most daunting period of their lives without the guarantee of care by the department," he said.
Last Friday, members of Co-operating for Cancer Care NorthWest also met the Western Health and Social Services Trust to discuss the radiotherapy unit.
(BMcC/GK)
The satellite radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin Hospital had been due to open in 2015, but earlier this month, Michael McGimpsey said an £800m shortfall in the NI health budget meant the unit would be built, but there was no cash to run it.
He claimed that the cuts mean 4,000 jobs in the health service could be lost over four years.
The SDLP's local Health Spokesperson Mark H Durkan said the attendance showed the huge amount of public feeling there is about the issue and the concern cancer sufferers and their families have about their future health provision.
The Northland councillor said the argument for the radiotherapy unit must be made on its regional merits and not made on parochial concerns.
"The proposed radiotherapy unit is a regional unit to serve all the people of the north and the wider north-west of this island.
"We must not allow this to fall into a parochial argument. The merits of the unit relied on it alleviating the Cancer Centre at Belfast City Hospital, which is already over demand, and providing a first rate service for cancer patients heading into the next decade and beyond.
"That was the reason why the Executive initially fell behind the unit and that is where we should refocus our efforts. This should be needs based, not geography based," he said, on Tuesday.
"The demand for the highest standard of radiotherapy treatment does not fall along geographical lines or constituency borders.
"All elected representatives in Derry need to refocus their efforts to convince the minister and the Executive that not only is this unit needed in Derry, it's needed by everybody in the north and the wider northwest of the island," said the nationalist politician.
"I call on the Minister to clarify the position he made to the Stormont Health Committee two weeks ago regarding the building and running costs of the unit.
"This uncertainty is doing nothing to help those suffering from cancer, those facing radiotherapy treatment and those entering the most daunting period of their lives without the guarantee of care by the department," he said.
Last Friday, members of Co-operating for Cancer Care NorthWest also met the Western Health and Social Services Trust to discuss the radiotherapy unit.
(BMcC/GK)
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18 May 2011
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Cancer patients in Londonderry who are facing a 200-mile round trip to a regional cancer centre in Belfast for treatment are hoping that a change at Stormont will bring them good news.
Derry Cancer Unit 'In The Balance'
Cancer patients in Londonderry who are facing a 200-mile round trip to a regional cancer centre in Belfast for treatment are hoping that a change at Stormont will bring them good news.
25 March 2011
Postponement Of Cancer Unit 'Sectarian'
The decision to postpone the construction of a radiotherapy unit in Londonderry has been blasted as 'sectarian' by the Deputy First Minister. Martin McGuinness said the delay, announced by the Health Minister, was "shameful, highly political and sectarian". He added he could "guarantee" to reverse it after the elections in May.
Postponement Of Cancer Unit 'Sectarian'
The decision to postpone the construction of a radiotherapy unit in Londonderry has been blasted as 'sectarian' by the Deputy First Minister. Martin McGuinness said the delay, announced by the Health Minister, was "shameful, highly political and sectarian". He added he could "guarantee" to reverse it after the elections in May.
24 March 2011
Resignation Over Postponement Of Cancer Unit
The decision to postpone a new radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry has been met with fierce criticism, with one senior politician resigning over the matter.
Resignation Over Postponement Of Cancer Unit
The decision to postpone a new radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry has been met with fierce criticism, with one senior politician resigning over the matter.
23 May 2011
Altnagelvin Cancer Care Unit 'To Go Ahead'
A vital decision on health provision for cancer patients in the North West has been made. The NI Health Minister Edwin Poots today announced that he would provide multi-million pound funding to allow a new radiotherapy centre at Altnagelvin, Londonderry to be built after all.
Altnagelvin Cancer Care Unit 'To Go Ahead'
A vital decision on health provision for cancer patients in the North West has been made. The NI Health Minister Edwin Poots today announced that he would provide multi-million pound funding to allow a new radiotherapy centre at Altnagelvin, Londonderry to be built after all.
23 March 2011
Radiotherapy Unit Plans Postponed
Plans for a new radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry have been postponed. The Health Minister Michael McGimpsey made the announcement to the Assembly in a statement on his capital priorities for the next four years.
Radiotherapy Unit Plans Postponed
Plans for a new radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry have been postponed. The Health Minister Michael McGimpsey made the announcement to the Assembly in a statement on his capital priorities for the next four years.
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