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14/10/2014
Radiotherapy Unit At Altnagelvin To Open
The radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin hospital in L'Derry is to open as planned in 2016, Health Minister Jim Wells has said.
The announcement will quell fears that delivery of the cancer unit would be delayed.
In August, it was revealed that the Department of Health was facing a £140m shortfall in funding.
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan said: "I very much welcome the good news from Minister Wells that funding is in place to ensure the timely delivery of the North West radiotherapy unit and importantly the delivery of the service itself for cancer sufferers.
"The people of the North West – including our neighbours in Donegal – fought a hard campaign to secure the radiotherapy unit but due to the financial situation within the Executive a fresh cloud of uncertainty was created around the project with the previous minister claiming that while the unit would be built there would be no revenue budget to provide and train staff.
"I have raised with Mr Wells the importance of providing certainty and allaying the fears of the wider North West population, not least people already dealing with the trauma of cancer. He has always appeared sympathetic to the case and his announcement today shows that he has listened.
"It is vital now that focus remains on getting this long awaited and much needed service up and running as soon as possible to ease the suffering faced by so many families in this part of the island."
(IT/JP)
The announcement will quell fears that delivery of the cancer unit would be delayed.
In August, it was revealed that the Department of Health was facing a £140m shortfall in funding.
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan said: "I very much welcome the good news from Minister Wells that funding is in place to ensure the timely delivery of the North West radiotherapy unit and importantly the delivery of the service itself for cancer sufferers.
"The people of the North West – including our neighbours in Donegal – fought a hard campaign to secure the radiotherapy unit but due to the financial situation within the Executive a fresh cloud of uncertainty was created around the project with the previous minister claiming that while the unit would be built there would be no revenue budget to provide and train staff.
"I have raised with Mr Wells the importance of providing certainty and allaying the fears of the wider North West population, not least people already dealing with the trauma of cancer. He has always appeared sympathetic to the case and his announcement today shows that he has listened.
"It is vital now that focus remains on getting this long awaited and much needed service up and running as soon as possible to ease the suffering faced by so many families in this part of the island."
(IT/JP)
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