AN Independent MEP has
welcomed moves to build a radiotherapy centre at
Altnagelvin Hospital for cross-border cancer
patients including those from Inishowen.
However, Marian Harkin MEP, warned that outcomes for
Donegal patients would remain less favourable unless
the measures were not introduced quickly and in
tandem with breast screening.
She said if the Irish Government could commit to a
€400m roads budget for the North, they should be
prepared to invest in saving cancer patients' lives.
“The people of the North West, on both sides of the
border, have been discriminated against by their
health authorities.
"If our Government is prepared to invest €400
million in the roads of Northern Ireland, they
should be prepared to invest the necessary funds to
provide vital cancer services in the region," she
said.
She said it was important any cross-border facility
had plenty of capacity.
“In July 2005 when Minister Harney announced that
the people of Donegal would have access to
radiotherapy services in Belfast I asked for a
guarantee that this would be available to all
seeking it.
"It is worrying to hear now that there is a capacity
problem in Belfast."
She said it was "absolutely urgent" that talks with
the Northern Ireland health authorities progressed
to the next stage.
“Already the roll out of BreastCheck to the North
West has been delayed by two years and this
continues a pattern of health service discrimination
which is particularly punitive on the people of
Donegal,” she added. |
