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Fresh hope for Donegal cancer
patients
08.10.07
THERE has been a
guarded reaction to a pledge by the island's health
ministers to build a satellite radiation centre for
the people of the North West.
The Republic's Minister for Health, Mary Harney T.D.,
and her Northern Ireland counterpart Michael
McGimpsey made the long-awaited announcement at a
meeting in Dundalk on Friday.
Fianna Fail described it as "positive news for the
entire North West region".
“It is not known yet where this satellite centre
will be based, but two obvious locations would be
Letterkenny or Derry," said Senator Brian
O'Domhnaill.
“Either of these options would make the experience
considerably more comfortable for cancer patients
from Donegal and surrounding counties.”
It is understood Mr. McGimpsey told Ms. Harney T.D.,
that capacity in Belfast could not meet the
requirements of patients in the North let alone
patients travelling from Donegal. |
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Sinn Féin, who have
lobbied vigorously for the satellite centre, said
action now needed to follow the verbal commitment.
"We welcome the news that a satellite cancer
radiation unit for the North West has at last been
discussed on a formal basis by both ministers," said
Buncrana-based Cllr. Padraig MacLochlainn.
"However, given the length of time that it has taken
to arrive at this point, Sinn Fein will be
determined that today's progress is built upon so we
will now be |
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vigorously pursuing
both ministers to firstly give a firm commitment
that such a unit will be established in the North
West and secondly, a timeframe for when this unit
will be up and running so that cancer patients in
this region can at last have equality of access to
cancer service provision," he added. |
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