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MacLochlainn demands answers on
Wyndale
21.05.08
A BUNCRANA councillor
has demanded immediate clarification about claims
that a private clinic being built in Donegal could
provide radiotherapy to cancer patients with public
money.
Cllr. Padraig MacLochlainn said claims by the
Wyndale Clinic consortium that it could provide
radiation therapy in Letterkenny if the HSE was
willing to fund it, needed an urgent explanation.
Cllr. MacLochlainn yesterday challenged the
Government to reconfirm its assertion that the
reason the State has not delivered radiation cancer
services to Letterkenny General Hospital was because
the population of Donegal is not sufficient to
safely and efficiently provide it. |
He asked how then could
it be safe and efficient for a private clinic to
provide the service in Donegal.
"I find it truly alarming that both Pat 'The Cope'
Gallagher and Mary Harney have not jumped at the
opportunity to clarify this matter of immense public
importance to the people of Donegal," he said.
"It really is a straight forward question - as the
Government have constantly reiterated their view
that radiotherapy services for cancer patients are
not deliverable within Letterkenny General Hospital
because the population of |
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the county is not
suffice to safely service one of these units, will
they now confirm that they will ensure that the HSE
apply the same standards to any application by the
private sector to provide these services in
Donegal?"
The town and county councillor criticised the former
Junior Minister, Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher for
agreeing to turn the sod at the recent public launch
of the construction phase of the Wyndale Clinic.
And he said that the Health Minister, Mary Harney
"avoided" the question put to her by his party
colleague, Deputy Caoimhghín O Caoláin in the Dáil.
He said Ms. Harney instead referred Deputy O Caoláin
to the HSE for a response.
"15,000 people marched on the streets of Letterkenny
for the Government to resource our public health
system and deliver equality in cancer care on this
island.
"We must not allow opportunistic private investors
to profit from their stirling efforts. The rules
that apply for safe and efficient cancer care in the
public sector must also apply to the private
sector," he said.
Cllr. MacLochlainn said the Government's focus
should be to sustain and enhance cancer care
services at Letterkenny General Hospital and ensure
that the suggested 2015 timescale for the radiation
unit at Altnagelvin Hospital be "significantly fast
tracked". |
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