This article is from page 12 of the 2006-04-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
FUNDING for public patients attending the radiotherapy unit at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital is being delayed, partly because of Department of Health guidelines, according to a senior health manager.
The clinical practice guidelines adopted by the department were highlighted as problematic for the satellite radiotherapy service, by John O’Brien, Hospital Network Manager for the Mid West Region.
The Health Service Executive Mid West has already applied for the €2 million funding necessary to run the Mid-Western Radiation Oncology centre every year.
“We have got some funding for cancer services, but we feel this service should be funded separately,” said Mr O’Brien, former assistant CEO of the health board.
The satellite unit on the grounds of the hospital in Dooradoyle, Limerick is currently treating 140 public and private patients from Clare, Limerick and Tipperary.
Patient referrals to the consultant radiation oncologist in the unit arise through the twiceweekly new patient clinics, or for in-patients at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital.
More than 1,600 treatments have been delivered by the on-site multi-disciplinary team of specialists in radiation oncology medicine, since it opened last October. There is now one linear accelerator at full service with capacity for a second.
Mr O’Brien told last Tuesday’s meeting of the Regional Health Forum West that the Department of Health now wanted to bring that second line on stream.