The Eastern Regional Health Authority has informed me that patients who are referred to St Luke's Hospital for radiotherapy treatment are assessed within two weeks of referral. Patients presenting as medical emergencies are prioritised for treatment by the consultant concerned. I have also been informed by the Southern Health Board that patients who are referred to Cork University Hospital for radiotherapy treatment are medically assessed within two to three weeks of referral.
Additional radiotherapy services are currently being developed at University College Hospital Galway to compliment services available from the other supra-regional centres at Cork and Dublin. The radiotherapy unit in Cork University Hospital is also undergoing a development programme which is near completion.
The planned development of cancer services nationally has been guided by the national cancer strategy. Having regard to developments in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, I established an expert working group under the chairmanship of Professor Donal Hollywood to examine radiotherapy requirements in the context of the further implementation of the strategy. The work of the expert group is at an advanced stage and the group's report is expected in the coming months.