CANCER campaigners
CCC(NW) have joined Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Derry
health officials to view the Altnagelvin site where
the new radiotherapy unit will be built.
CCC(NW) spokesperson, Noelle Duddy, said her group
were delighted to receive a call from Mr Kenny's
office on Friday ahead of his visit to Derry for the
opening of the new Peace Bridge.
“We are pleased that the Taoiseach has come to the
North West to be personally briefed by the Western
Health and Social Care Trust team who is managing
this project and to view the site where the new
cross border radiotherapy unit will be built. We
were honoured to be invited to this meeting.”
Group chairman, Jim O’Donnell added: “During his
visit the Taoiseach strongly re-affirmed his
absolute personal commitment and that of the Irish
Government to this cross border project. CCC(NW) is
very pleased that the Taoiseach also endorsed,
acknowledged and praised the role CCC(NW) played in
helping secure this vital service for cancer
patients in the North West region.”
Around one third of the patients who will attend the
unit will be from Donegal. In light of this, the
Irish Government will provide a capital contribution
of €19 million to the project. In addition, the
National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) will
contribute to the operating costs of treatment for
patients from the Republic. Meanwhile, Letterkenny
and Altnagelvin continue to work together in
developing patient clinical pathways. An estimated
1,022 new patients from the North and 360 new
patients from the South will be treated in the unit
per year.
“When this unit is operational, the majority of
cancer patients in Donegal and the NW region
requiring radiotherapy will be able to receive their
treatment near to home, families and friends.
Patients who currently have to refuse treatment
because they are unable to travel to Dublin, Galway
or Belfast, will in the future be able to accept and
avail of treatment. Travelling distressing hundreds
of miles for radiotherapy treatment will be a thing
of the past. It is anticipated that the unit will be
built by 2015 and operational mid 2016," added Ms
Duddy. |
