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15/04/2008
Cancer Care Could Cross Communities
Cross border co-operation may soon take on a life-saving aspect with the possibility that seriously ill Donegal people may be able to avail of the latest hi-tech care in Northern Ireland.
The news emerged this week following a cross-border cancer care group's meeting with Northern Ireland's Health Minister Michael McGimpsey.
In advance of an Assembly debate on such services in the border area, he met members of Co-operating for Cancer Care North West and said that plans are already well underway in to provide additional radiation capacity.
He said that initial assessment suggests strongly that Altnagelvin Hospital is the most favoured option - and that the plans take into account the population on both sides of the border.
The members of Co-operating for Cancer Care North West were at Stormont on Monday afternoon.
Members of the organisation, which represents cancer patients from Donegal, Derry and Tyrone, spent just under 40 minutes with the Minister and his advisors, during which time they discussed what spokesperson Noelle Duddy termed "our wish list."
She said the group explained that their primary goal is the provision of a cross border satellite radiation unit for the north west region - at either Letterkenny General Hospital or Altnagelvin Hospital - and told the Minister it was essential that both governments reach an agreed decision as a matter of urgency.
In fact, MLAs are now to ask the NI Health Minister for a specialist cancer unit to be developed at Altnagelvin Area Hospital in the near future.
This proposal is part of an Assembly debate that is taking place on the future of overall cancer services in the north-west.
Sinn Féin's Raymond McCartney - who tabled the motion - said money must be made available for a dedicated cancer facility in the area.
Currently the only radiography unit in Northern Ireland is in Belfast, and patients have to travel for treatment.
Raymond McCartney said cancer provision is high on the political agenda in the north-west.
"If this is taken as an all-Ireland project, the critical mass is there, and it will make it more difficult to ignore the claims of the north-west.
"We'll say to Michael McGimpsey, make this a priority," said Mr McCartney.
(BMcC)
The news emerged this week following a cross-border cancer care group's meeting with Northern Ireland's Health Minister Michael McGimpsey.
In advance of an Assembly debate on such services in the border area, he met members of Co-operating for Cancer Care North West and said that plans are already well underway in to provide additional radiation capacity.
He said that initial assessment suggests strongly that Altnagelvin Hospital is the most favoured option - and that the plans take into account the population on both sides of the border.
The members of Co-operating for Cancer Care North West were at Stormont on Monday afternoon.
Members of the organisation, which represents cancer patients from Donegal, Derry and Tyrone, spent just under 40 minutes with the Minister and his advisors, during which time they discussed what spokesperson Noelle Duddy termed "our wish list."
She said the group explained that their primary goal is the provision of a cross border satellite radiation unit for the north west region - at either Letterkenny General Hospital or Altnagelvin Hospital - and told the Minister it was essential that both governments reach an agreed decision as a matter of urgency.
In fact, MLAs are now to ask the NI Health Minister for a specialist cancer unit to be developed at Altnagelvin Area Hospital in the near future.
This proposal is part of an Assembly debate that is taking place on the future of overall cancer services in the north-west.
Sinn Féin's Raymond McCartney - who tabled the motion - said money must be made available for a dedicated cancer facility in the area.
Currently the only radiography unit in Northern Ireland is in Belfast, and patients have to travel for treatment.
Raymond McCartney said cancer provision is high on the political agenda in the north-west.
"If this is taken as an all-Ireland project, the critical mass is there, and it will make it more difficult to ignore the claims of the north-west.
"We'll say to Michael McGimpsey, make this a priority," said Mr McCartney.
(BMcC)
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