A new radiotherapy facility could be up and running in the mid-west region within two years if the necessary funding becomes available, it has been claimed.
The facility is being provided through a public-private partnership between the Mid-Western Health Board, the Mater Private Hospital and the Mid Western Hospitals Development Trust, a charitable fundraising body.
The trust has agreed to provide the capital costs of €6.1 million for the radiotherapy facility, while planning permission has already been secured for it on the site of the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Dooradoyle.
The unit will be built and equipped by the trust and run by the Mater Private Hospital, while €1.5 million per year is needed by the health board to provide a service to public patients.
According to the chairman of the trust, Mr Louis Craven, there are more than 1,500 new cases of cancer diagnosed each year in the Mid-West. Approximately 750 cases require radiotherapy treatment.
Mr Craven pointed out that only 21 per cent in the mid-west region opt for radiotherapy, as against 34 per cent in Dublin and Cork where radiotherapy facilities are available.
"It is critical for the people of the Mid-West to have access locally to a radiotherapy facility," he said.
Mr Craven said the trust has been in regular contact with the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, over the past two years to secure funding for the project.
Mr Gerry Kearns, a spokesperson for the consultants involved, said: "The current arrangements are entirely unsatisfactory, and create hardship for patients who have to wait for several weeks to access treatment, travel long journeys for treatment in Dublin or Cork when it becomes available and often have to remain away from home while undergoing treatment.
"This has led to a situation where there is a very low level of uptake."
He said that if the plan is approved, they estimate the new unit could be up and running within two years.
